{
  "abstract": "Background and Importance Automation is being used more frequently in the manufacturing site of hospital pharmacies. With the PharmaPrinter (CurifyLabs, Helsinki, Finland), it is now also possible to manufacture suppositories. Ideally, the machine facilitates production and ensures a reproducibly high quality of the suppositories.Aim and Objectives Suppositories (n=10) were made both, manually (SuH), and mechanically (SuP) and processes and results were compared. We focused on appearance, mass and content of the suppositories, and preparation time.Material and Methods Suppositories were prepared with 5 mg diclofenac-sodium each (total mass: 1 g). Hardfat was chosen for the handmade suppositories, SuppoBase by CurifyLabs (containing hard fat, polysorbate 80 and colloidal silica) was chosen for the PharmaPrinter. The final suppositories were evaluated for appearance, mass uniformity and content uniformity (Ph. Eur. 2.9.40). Diclofenac-sodium content was assessed by a validated HPLC-UV method, adapted from Ph. Eur., after methanolic extraction. Additionally, production time was reported.Results The SuH had a smooth surface and finish. SuP had a smooth surface as well but a hole on the finish and the moulds were not filled completely.The masses (mean ± RSD) were 1.09 g ± 0.56% (SuH) rsp. 0.97 g ± 1.06% (SuP) and the contents of diclofenac-sodium (mean ± RSD) were 4.91 mg ± 0.84% (SuH) rsp. 4.68 mg ± 1.3% (SuP). Both met the criteria of mass and content uniformity (AV max. 15).Preparation times were 65 min. (SuH) rsp. 48 min. (SuP).Conclusion and Relevance Both techniques resulted in suppositories of good quality, whereas production time was a little shorter for machine production. Explanatory videos from the homepage of CurifyLabs also make it easier for inexperienced manufacturers. During the process the PharmaPrinter reported each mass of the resulting suppository. If there are deviations of ±10%, the suppository was marked and can therefore be sorted out. The PharmaPrinter can therefore facilitate and automate the production of suppositories.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Heidelberg, Pharmacy Department, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "S Sauer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University Hospital Heidelberg, Pharmacy Department, Heidelberg, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "N Pinder"
    }
  ],
  "title": "3PC-014 Manufacturing of suppositories by hand and by a machine: a comparison",
  "uid": "03d00ecf-a4f9-507f-a3e1-db950b0a0759"
}