Inventing A Machine That Spits Out Drugs In A Whole New Way

A laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in conjunction with Novartis have a prototype device?that produces 1,000 pills in 24 hours, according to a collaborative report from?NPR, WBUR and Kaiser Health News. ?

The article goes on to say that the team envisions that drug manufacturers will be able to significantly decrease the complexity and duration of producing?medications and that hospitals and pharmacies could manufacture?their own pills, as needed, at reduced cost. The effort is funded by the Defense Department.

Stated goals?include?deploying?the machines?strategically across?the US, sending them to?field hospitals in remote combat zones and?using them?during a disease outbreak.

Reportedly, ?Dr. Paul Beninger, who oversees pharmaceutical safety at manufacturer Genzyme Sanofi, indicated that drug makers have concerns: intellectual property rights and safety.

@NPR: Inventing A Machine That Spits Out Drugs In A Whole New Way