In 2015, Aprecia Pharmaceuticals produced the first tablet manufactured through 3D printing to be approved by the FDA. Two years later, GlaxoSmithKline completed a study where inkjet 3D printing and ultraviolet curing were used to create tablets that treat Parkinson’s disease. With applications in controlled release, short-run medicines, and even the potential for on-site printing at pharmacies, 3D-printing technology has the ability to transform the pharmaceutical industry. 3D printing also holds tremendous promise for orphan drugs, which are designed to treat rare diseases that are sometimes not developed by the pharmaceutical industry due to economic reasons. Although no good manufacturing practice guidelines have been administered for 3D-printed pharmaceuticals, the FDA established guidelines for 3D printing of medical device products in 2017. The methods of 3D printing are quite varied, even within solid dosage drugs, making it too early to define best practices. Inkjet 3D-printing methods are of particular interest to the pharmaceutical industry because they have many parallels with current manufacturing processes and may offer a more efficient, longer-term printing solution. Further research into dynamic 3D printing of drugs can offer solutions for patient compliance, convenience, and safety.

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