Hermes Pharma has unveiled plans to ramp up its expansion into the U.S. market. From the development of new products through to regulatory support and manufacturing, Hermes Pharma provides customized solutions all along the pharmaceutical value chain. A newly formed team will be specifically serving the U.S. market and sharing the company’s expertise in effervescent and chewable tablets, instant drinks, lozenges and orally disintegrating granules (ODGs).

Hermes Pharma’s expansion into the U.S. market comes at a pertinent time, given the FDA guidance released in June on improving the size and shape of tablets and capsules, as well as a recent survey conducted by the market research firm Spiegel Institut Mannheim. The latter, supported by funds from Hermes Pharma, showed that half of the people in the U.S. have difficulties swallowing tablets or capsules. They are often too big, become stuck in the throat, and have an unpleasant taste/odor. This causes people to chew, break up or crush and dissolve tablets before swallowing them. Worryingly, some people even stop taking their medication altogether, highlighting the impact of swallowing difficulties on compliance.

“We think that patients should be at the heart of product development,” said Thomas Hein, senior vice president, commercial and regulatory affairs, Hermes Pharma. “Now is the time to better meet their needs by turning to innovative, user-friendly dosage forms. By improving patient experience, these dosage forms provide additional value to every stakeholder, from end-users and healthcare providers, to reimbursers and pharma.”