7th Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan Prize for the Most Outstanding Thesis Goes to Kaken Pharmaceuticals Researchers(April 10, 2003)
Yasutomi Kato and other researchers from the Drug Formulation Department of the Central Research Laboratories of Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. received the 7th Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan* Prize for the Most Outstanding Thesis** from the Academy of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan (established in 1985; about 1,500 members) at the 18th annual assembly of the academy held at the Kyoto International Conference Hall on April 4 and 5.

The group received the prize for two papers they published in the academy journal: Research on Rapidly-disintegrating Tablets Using the Surface-modifying Method (in Japanese) and Rapidly Disintegrating Tablets Prepared by a Surface-modifying Method-Comparison of Disintegrants (in English). The group reported that by modifying the active ingredients particle surface by this method, tablets can be manufactured by the direct tableting method, the most simple and economical method of manufacturing tablets, without using any special equipment or device. The group also showed that tablets which disintegrate within 30 seconds with only a small volume of water can be manufactured by adding the appropriate disintegrating agents. A patent has been applied for the groups technology, which will be actively used in the future to develop tablets that are easy for elderly patients and children to ingest.

* Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan: This journal is published by the Academy of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan, 5 times a year. The 62nd volume has recently been published. With the YAKUGAKU ZASSHI, published by the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, this is one of the most time-honored journals in the field of pharmaceutical sciences in Japan.

** Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan Prize for the Most Outstanding Thesis: This prize, introduced in 1991 to upgrade the quality of articles published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan, is offered every two years to the most outstanding general thesis published in the journal. At the same time, outstanding thesis prizes are granted to two other outstanding articles.