Peter James Watts

TARGIT™ technology: coated starch capsules for site-specific drug delivery into the lower gastrointestinal tract

TARGIT™ technology (West Pharmaceutical Services) is designed for site-specific delivery of drugs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and, in particular, targeted release into the colonic region. A key area of application is the delivery of therapeutic agents for local treatment of lower GI diseases. The technology is based on the application of pH-sensitive coatings onto injection-moulded starch capsules. An extensive body of clinical data has been generated showing reliable invivo performance of the capsules. In γ-scintigraphy studies around 90% of TARGIT capsules (n = 84) delivered their contents to the target site of the terminal ileum and colon. TARGIT-based products are in active clinical development for the treatment of conditions including inflammatory bowel diseases.