Recent advances in pharmaceutical cocrystal design: leveraging in-silico technologies for enhanced drug development

Pharmaceutical cocrystals are a versatile means of enhancing the properties of drug compounds, making them a valuable asset in drug formulation and development. They can improve the therapeutic performance and overall patient experience of pharmaceutical products. This review begins with a brief introduction to pharmaceutical cocrystals and definitions, including their components. It also covers current regulatory aspects, such as patents, ongoing clinical trials, and marketed formulations of cocrystals in the pharmaceutical industry. Predicting cocrystal formation in the early stages of formulation development can be challenging, often requiring significant time and resources. To overcome this challenge, both empirical and computational methods have been developed to efficiently and accurately screen potential co-formers, thereby reducing the number of laboratory experiments needed. This review presents advanced methods for preparing pharmaceutical cocrystals and emphasizes sophisticated techniques for evaluating them. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion on the applications of pharmaceutical cocrystals in drug delivery, reinforcing their vital role in the future of pharmaceuticals.