Chapter 21: Pharmaceutical Properties – The Importance of Solid Form Selection

The selection of the solid form for development is a milestone in the conversion of a new chemical entity into a drug product. An understanding of the materials science of a new active pharmaceutical is crucial at the interface of medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical development. The physicochemical properties of a new chemical entity that impact product performance are strongly influenced by the solid state structure of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. The formation of different solid state structures (salt, co-crystal and polymorph) provides an opportunity to eliminate undesirable properties thus enabling a rapid and successful development program. In this chapter we will link new academic progress to the best current industrial practices that medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical scientists can apply in selecting the optimal solid form, along with the related pharmaceutical properties that enable the rapid advancement of new molecules to medicines.