In the drug industry, the diversity of different types of pills is first manifested in the release mechanism and design of the dosage form. Fast-disintegration tablets (IR) account for 62% of oral solid dosage forms globally, with a disintegration time usually not more than 15 minutes, while sustained-release tablets (ER) control the speed of drug release through hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coating, reducing fluctuations in blood concentration by 70%, and are suitable for antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine (FDA statistics). The 2023 market report reveals that the global sustained-release tablet market is worth $47 billion and grows at a rate of 8.3% per annum (Grand View Research). Astrazeneca’s sustained-release tablets of omeprazole, utilizing a multi-unit pellet system, for instance, have an intra-gastric release error rate of only ±5% and a 22% increase in bioavailability as compared to ordinary tablets (USP case).
The process of production of other pills directly affects the cost and efficiency. Since citric acid (15-20%) and sodium bicarbonate (10-15%) must be added, it costs 40% more to produce a single tablet compared to normal tablets, but the dissolution speed is a maximum of 30 seconds, suitable for items such as vitamin C, and a 12% increase in global sales in 2022 (Euromonitor International). For chew tablets, disintegrators are omitted, hardness is controlled at 50-100N, and pediatric medications such as Montelukast sodium chewable tablets weigh 500 mg per capsule, and taste compliance is increased by 35% (Merck Clinical Report). On the other hand, suflingual tablets such as nitroglycerin disperse in 60 seconds, have a particle size distribution range of ≤50μm, absorb at three times the rate of standard oral tablets, and account for 18% of cardiovascular drugs in emergency care (WHO guidelines).
Special purpose dosage forms revolutionize different kinds of pills. Eutragit-coated tablets (e.g., Eudragit L100) pH-sensitive coating discharged less than 5% in stomach acid condition and over 95% under intestinal conditions of pH ≥6.8, and for esomeprazole, a healing rate for ulcers is 92% (Janssen study). Multilayer tablets have more than one api using lamination technology, such as Bayer Aspirin Cardio containing aspirin (100 mg) with the enteric layer reducing gastric mucosal damage risk by 67% (Lancet trial). Microtablets of 2-3 mm diameter are well suited for pediatric accurate dosing, and Pfizer’s Paxlovid mini tablets have a weight error of ±1.5 mg, 90% more accurate than standard segmentation methods (FDA Emergency Use authorization).
Regulatory requirements and distribution in the market decide the regional characteristics of different types of pills. 67% of US market OTC analgesics are 0.05-0.1 mm thickness film coated tablets and are 50% more resistant to moisture than sugar coated tablets (USP<671> standard). The European Union requires that heavy metal content in Chinese medicine tablets must be less than 10ppm, and Tonrentang Liuwei Dihuang Pill adopts ultra-fine grinding technology to make the particle size of medicinal materials 10 microns, and the dissolution rate is increased from 75% to 93% (Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020 edition). In India, dispersible tablets do not need to be swallowed with water (disintegration time ≤3 minutes), and rural consumption is 41% of anti-infective drugs, and production cost is 28% lower than oral fluid (FDA of India report).
New technologies are pushing the boundaries of different types of pills. 3D printed tablets such as Spritam (levetiracetam) use ZipDose technology, porosity greater than 90%, the dose of dissolution up to 1000 mg for 1 second, and patient epilepsy drug compliance increased by 40% (Aprecia Pharmaceuticals data). Smart tablets with implanted microsensors (e.g., Proteus Digital Health devices) that monitor the pH of stomach acid and transmit drug time data have shown a 33% increase in effectiveness in managing chronic disease in clinical trials. Nanocrystalline technology reduces insoluble drug particles, like the antifungal itraconazole, to 200 nanometers, increases bioavailability from 55% to 89% (Nature Nanotechnology paper), and reduces the cost of producing a single dose by 62% of traditional preparations.