> Pre-formulation development: physical and chemical characteristics of the proposed active ingredients are analyzed to allow selection of optimal excipients and dosage forms.

> Formulation design: APR creates a range of theoretical formulations that meet the clients' needs in terms of release characteristics, stability and performance of the product.

> Compatibility tests: If necessary a compatibility test (i.e. stability at stressed condition) can be conducted in order to determine functional ingredients/excipient compatibility.

> Prototype development: APR's extensive experience combined with ongoing research allows us to propose (and produce) the best formulation for the intended purpose. The APR team develops a prototype in the laboratory taking into account the subsequent need to scale-up. This ensures that only minor modifications are necessary when the process is scaled up.

> Preliminary stability studies: using International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and our validated procedures, the prototype is tested to determine if the selected formulation(s) can be considered stable in terms of chemical, physical and microbiological point of view. The exact nature of tests carried out depends on the product and individual customer requests.