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Egalet Ltd. is a biotechnology company that focuses on the development of pharmaceuticals. It was founded in 1995 at its current headquarters in Værløse, Denmark. The company has offices in the UK, the US, and Denmark. All research and development and manufacturing is carried out in the Denmark headquarters. Egalet trades on the Nasdaq under symbol EGLT.〔"Welcome to Egalet." Egalet Ltd. N.p., 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. http://www.egalet.com.〕 ==Mechanism of action== Egalet Ltd. has developed one of the world’s first erosion based pill that allows for the controlled release of drugs. The unconventionally shaped pill is made up of an inner matrix which contains the active ingredient and an outer coating shell made up of specific polymers. The matrix, or inner portion of the pill, contains the dispersed drug. The matrix is designed to erode when it comes into contact with water but not until the desired point of release in order to avoid hydrolysis and the reduction of enzymatic activity.〔Fischer, et al. "Matrix compositions for controlled delivery of drug substances." U.S. Patent Number 8,298,581. 30 October 2012〕〔Bar-Shalom, Daniel. "Controlled release composition." U.S. Patent Number 7,883,722. 8 February 2011.〕 The active substance is then released with a zero order release which ensures that a steady amount of the drug is released over time.〔 This minimizes fluctuations while maximizing the amount of time the drug remains within the therapeutic window. The matrix is protected by the outer shell coating made of polymers similar to those used in plastic. More specifically, the shell is made up of a cellulose derivative with thermoplastic properties.〔 This derivative is basically insoluble in an aqueous solution.〔 The shell also contains a second cellulose derivative which is soluble in an aqueous solution, a plasticizer which promotes plasticity and reduces brittleness, and a filler which increases volume.〔 The outer shell protects the inner matrix making it an ideal system for chemically unstable substances, those with low melting and boiling points, and water-insoluble compounds.〔 Also, this protective shell significantly increases the shelf life of the substance.〔 The shell composition allows for controlled release of the matrix in both the stomach and the intestines despite the varying pH, agitation, etc.〔 Once ingested the shell is separated from the matrix through water diffusion, polymer hydration, disentanglement, and dissolution, and the matrix can then carry out its intended function.〔 By altering the composition of the shell and matrix, many drug formulations and ways of release can be achieved. The altering of the shape and surface area of the pill can also affect release times.〔 The pills are made with injection molding, similar to plastic molding, in order to complete the creation process in one fluid step.〔 They are the first company to manufacture pharmaceuticals using this technology. Injection molding is accurate, easy to reproduce (for manufacturing large quantities), has a low cost of production, and allows for simple technology transfer. The process is actually quite simple. First, the cavity starts off empty. Then, the piston moves forward, creating the shape for the shell, and the coating material is injected.〔 Next, the material hardens, and the matrix material that contains the drug is injected while the piston is recedes.〔 Finally, the matrix hardens while the piston ejects the finished tablet.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Egalet」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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