Q: Can you provide an overview of your pharmacy and your role there?
A: I work in a large university hospital with 1,000 beds. My role is primarily as a clinical pharmacist, but we also provide services to outpatients, resulting in a significant amount of extemporaneous manufacturing.
Q: How would you describe CurifyLabs' technology, and what feedback have you received from stakeholders?
A: Initially, there were concerns and suspicions among pharmacy staff about the technology when we placed the machine in the extemporaneous area. However, within two weeks, people became familiar with it and found it easy to use.
I conducted multiple printing batches, and invited pharmacy colleagues, other pharmacists from Estonia, doctors, nurses, and representatives from the state agency of medicine to see the technology in action.
The regulatory officials were pleasantly surprised by the advanced nature of the machine and the existing processes. They had few questions regarding safety or quality, which was unexpected. Doctors, especially pediatric neurologists and oncologists, expressed a demand for printed medications due to current formulation limitations, and intensive care doctors also found it useful.
Overall, the feedback was very positive. The machine even received a name within a few days, as it was seen as a cute addition to our traditional practices.
Q: What do you foresee in the near future regarding personalized medicine?
A: I see numerous possibilities, especially within the hospital setting. If we have stability data for specific drugs with suitable excipients and the cost is reasonable, we can explore different formulations such as soluble tablets or pediatric formulations that are currently unavailable. It's a practical solution, which is much needed.