ExtempoPrint

APL’s Commitment to Sustainable Value Creation and Personalised Medicine through 3D Printing Technology

APL is continuously working to create sustainable value and further develop its public service mission of manufacturing and supplying extemporaneous medicines for patients with special needs. Through automated dispensing using 3D printing technology—a method we call ExtepoPrint—we can offer patients precisely tailored doses and customised dosage forms.

As Sweden’s leading manufacturer of extemporaneous medicines, we have invested in 3D printing technology that presents significant advantages over conventional extemporaneous manufacturing, particularly in terms of patient safety and sustainability. By automating the dispensing of medicines with 3D technology, we are seeing clear benefits:

• Improved quality through integrated quality control.
• Enhanced patient outcomes thanks to the production of various dosage forms with flexible dosing.
• Better working conditions for manufacturing staff.
• Exceptional dose accuracy.

Although 3D printing technology for pharmaceuticals has been available since 2015, only a limited number of pharmaceutical companies have adopted it. With ExtepoPrint, medications can be personalised in both dose and form, allowing for more efficient administration—particularly for young children and seriously ill patients. More precise dosing also has the potential to reduce side effects.

We are committed to sustainable development and long-term value creation. ExtepoPrint allows us to produce exact doses, reducing waste and improving the work environment by minimising the risk of strain injuries and reducing staff exposure to toxic substances. The introduction of ExtepoPrint technology benefits not only long-term economic viability and workplace safety, but also supports environmental sustainability.

Christina Holmberg, Section Manager, is the project lead for implementing automated medicine dispensing at APL:

“Automated dispensing is a perfect fit for our operations, as we work with personalised medicines in small volumes. A patient can receive an exact dose of their medication, and healthcare professionals or parents of seriously ill children no longer need to crush tablets and measure out lower doses manually. Another example is the ability to customise the dosage form—patients can receive a chewable or orally disintegrating tablet, or one that fully dissolves in water for administration via feeding tube,” says Christina.

More accurate dosing with ExtepoPrint helps reduce side effects. For example, young children undergoing cancer treatment often experience high blood pressure as a side effect, and there are currently no blood pressure medications specifically adapted for children. In the past, a tablet formulated for adults would be crushed, and the estimated portion thought to be suitable for a child would be administered—resulting in uncertain dosing. An overdose can cause adverse effects, while an underdose may render the treatment ineffective. ExtepoPrint eliminates this uncertainty by ensuring precise and personalised dosing.

.