Programmable Oral Drug Absorption System (PRODAS® Technology) is a multiparticulate technology, which is unique in that it combines the benefits of tabletting technology within a capsule.

Benefits of the Elan’s PRODAS® Technology include:

• Multi-unit system, which allows customized release and absorption patterns
• Equivalent bioavailability to reference multiple dose product in a once daily formulation is achieved
• Minimum peak to trough ratio at steady state
• Minimal food impact
• Pulsed / programmed release to different sites in the GI tract
• Combines tabletting technology with multi-unit features
• Tablet efficiency
• Process control
• Functional coating(s)
• Multi-unit presentation            

The PRODAS® delivery system is presented as a number of minitablets combined in a hard gelatin capsule. Very flexible, the PRODAS® technology can be used to pre-program the release rate of a drug. It is possible to incorporate many different minitablets, each one formulated individually and programmed to release drug at different sites within the gastro-intestinal tract. It is also possible to incorporate minitablets of different sizes so that high drug loading is possible.

PRODAS® technology, by incorporating minitablets with different release rates, can display the characteristics of a number of different conventional dosage forms:

• Immediate release component will mimic the conventional formulation ensuring that the once daily formulation is as fast acting
• Delayed release can provide site / regional release and food resistance
• Sustained release component provides additional controlled release / protection