Orodispersible Films: An Alternative to Syrups for Neonates and Infants?

A study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics brings excellent news for parents and healthcare professionals: orodispersible films like Rapidfilm® are a safe and effective alternative to syrups, even for very young children.

Promising results:

This randomized, double-blind, crossover-controlled study compared the acceptability of orodispersible films manufactured by Labtec to that of glucose syrup in 150 children aged 2 days to 12 months. The study involved three age groups: 2-28 days, 29 days-5 months, and 6-12 months.

The results are clear:

• The acceptability of orodispersible films proved not only equivalent to that of syrups but also superior, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001).
• The ability to swallow orodispersible films was significantly better than for syrup (p < 0.0001)
• The palatability assessment was also in favor of orodispersible films

Other studies have shown high acceptability of orodispersible films in older children (3 years and above) and their caregivers, suggesting that this dosage form could be widely adopted across pediatric age groups.

These results highlight the many advantages of orodispersible films like Rapidfilm®:

• A dosage form suitable for all pediatric patients
• Precise and flexible dosing
• Improved drug stability
• Fewer toxic excipients than liquid formulations
• Simplified storage and transport

Want to Know More About How Rapidfilm® Works?
Beyond acceptability and ease of use, Rapidfilm® optimizes drug absorption for better efficacy. Learn more about its impact on API delivery and patient benefits in our dedicated article.

This study highlights the revolutionary potential of orodispersible films like Rapidfilm® in administering medications to children. These films prove to be a safe and promising alternative to traditional liquid formulations, even for very young children.

Rapidfilm® could well transform the approach to pediatric medication, offering a stable and easy-to-produce solution suitable for all ages.

References: 

[1]       V. Klingmann et al., « Acceptability of an orodispersible film compared to syrup in neonates and infants: A randomized controlled trial », Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. Off. J. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pharm. Verfahrenstechnik EV, vol. 151, p. 239‑245, juin 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.03.018.