The Developability Classification System (DCS): Enabling an Optimized Approach for Formulation of Poorly Soluble Molecules

White Paper
60 to 90% of drugs are classified as poorly soluble
and risk failure due to poor performance and poor
absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.5
This white paper explores the developability
classification system (DCS), a recent advancement
based on the BCS system but, instead of focusing
on regulatory aspects, this framework assists
formulators in the development of poorly soluble
drug formulations.6
This is achieved by identifying the
root cause for low solubility and providing strategies
for molecules that are either dissolution limited or
solubility limited.
The Developability Classification System
Expanding upon the BCS, the DCS introduced key
modifications to improve applicability to formulation
development. For example, biorelevant media was
introduced to provide a more reliable assessment of
in-vivo solubility, and the BCS Class II was further
divided into two sub-categories: DCS Class IIa and
DCS Class IIb. Another modification was the shift in
dose solubility ratio, resulting in a lower threshold
for a molecule to be considered “soluble”.
As a result, the appearance of the DCS is different
than the BCS, with the cut-off between DCS I and
III and DCS IIa/b and IV appearing at a dose-
solubility ratio of 500, as opposed to 250 in the BCS.
Furthermore, the BCS II portion of the graph is split
into two sections in the DCS to represent DCS IIa
and IIb.
This line, which separates the two sub-categories,
is the solubility-limited absorbable dose (SLAD) line.
The line uses a ratio of solubility and permeability to
determine if an increase in dissolution rate will have
a measurable impact on overall absorption. Based
on this ratio, a drug molecule is placed either above
or below the SLAD line. Molecules above the line are
Ensuring sufficient solubility for orally delivered solid
dosage forms is a critical step in their development.
Most, if not all, of the absorption of these dosage forms
takes place in the small intestine, where the drug must
be sufficiently dissolved in the gastrointestinal fluids
to pass through the membrane and into the systemic
circulation. If the drug is not soluble in gastrointestinal
fluids, this process cannot occur and the intended
physiological effect will not be realized.
The importance of solubility is highlighted in the
biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS).1
The
BCS framework originated in the 1990s and sought to
correlate in-vitro solubility and permeability with the
potential in-vivo performance of drug molecules. In
the system, molecules are categorized based on the
combination of solubility and permeability. BCS Class I,
for example, includes molecules that have both high
solubility and permeability, and as such are expected
to have good absorption in the gastrointestinal
tract. BCS Class II compounds, on the other hand,
have low solubility and high permeability, while BCS
Class III molecules have high solubility and low
permeability. The most challenging class of molecules
are those categorized as BCS Class IV; these
molecules have both low solubility and permeability.
The BCS was originally used by the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) as the basis for biowaiver
applications for immediate release formulations in
order to reduce the need for additional in-vivo studies
for bioavailability and bioequivalence.2
Still today, this
framework is important for regulatory considerations,
as referenced by the recent publication from the FDA
regarding BCS-based biowavers.3
Since the introduction of the BCS, the solubility
landscape of marketed drugs continues to evolve.4
It is conservatively estimated that approximately 40
to 60% of approved drugs suffer with poor solubility
(BCS Class II or BCS Class IV). The same assessment
applied to drug candidates in development reveals that
The Developability Classification System
(DCS): Enabling an Optimized Approach for
Formulation of Poorly Soluble Molecules
Daniel Joseph Price
MilliporeSigma is the U.S. and
Canada Life Science business of
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

2
dissolution rate-limited (DCS Class IIa). Theoretically,
if the maximum solubility is reached faster, absorption
of the molecule can be enhanced; development should
therefore focus on the dissolution rate. Molecules
below the SLAD line (DCS Class IIb) have such a low
solubility that no matter how quickly the drug gets
into solution, there will not be a measurable impact on
absorption. The fundamental challenge with DCS IIb
molecules is therefore solubility.
The value of having two new classifications to guide
development of solubility enhanced formulations is
clear. A more granular understanding of the root
causes of solubility limitations – whether driven by
dissolution rate or intrinsic solubility – can be used
to guide design of optimized formulations rather than
relying on trial and error. Figure 2 provides a workflow
for selecting the best formulation strategy based the
DCS class of a molecule.
For dissolution rate-limited compounds, DCS IIa, if the
dissolution rate can be enhanced, a very simple and
effective formulation can be developed. This could be
accomplished either with reducing the particle size,
accelerating disintegration, incorporating wetting
agents or surfactants, or replacing hydrophobic
excipients with hydrophilic excipients to reduce the
retardation effect of excipients on the formulation.
In contrast, for molecules below the SLAD line – DCS
IIb, solubility limited compounds - the formulation
must address the intrinsic solubility. This could require
modification of the chemical structure of the molecule
or of the solid state of the molecule using solid
dispersion technologies such as hot melt extrusion
(HME), spray-dried dispersion (SDD), or use of carriers
such as mesoporous silica.
Figure 1.
The DCS is a modified version of the BCS, modifications in the DCS
are shown in pink.
Figure 2.
Selection of the formulation strategy for poorly soluble molecules can be guided by the DCS class of the molecule.
Enhancing
solubility
Dissolution
rate limited
(DCS IIa)
Promote
Dissolution
• Accelerate disintegration
(Parteck®
CCS, Parteck®
M)
• Dissolution enhancers
(Parteck®
PLX 188)
• Replace hydrophobic lubricants
with hydrophilic lubricants
(Parteck®
PLX 188)
• Salt formation (Meglumine)
• Prodrug formation
• Particle size reduction • Solid dispersion
technologies
– Hot melt extrusion
(Parteck®
MXP)
– Carriers (Parteck®
SLC)
Physical
modifications
Enabling
Formulations
Chemical
modification
Solubility
limited
(DCS IIb)
Dose solubility
ratio 250 500 1,000 5,000 100,000
10,000
I
High solubility
High permeability
IIb
Solubility limited
II
Low solubility
High permeability
IIa
Dissolution
rate limited
IV
Low solubility
Low permeability
III
High solubility
Low permeability
10
0.1
1
Predicted
P
eff
in
Humans
cm/s
×
10
-4

3
Formulation Strategies for DCS IIa
Molecules
As described above, the main techniques for enhancing
dissolution rates are particle size reduction or
creating a more favorable dissolution environment by
altering the formulation components. The effect of
both formulation strategies is related to the impact
on dissolution as described in the Noyes Whitney
Equation. Specifically, this equation describes how
dissolution rate is related to particle surface area,
wetting and immersion.7
For particle size reduction, an increase in surface
area results in an increased dissolution rate. For
incorporation of surfactants or removal of hydrophobic
excipients, the wetting and immersion of molecules in
the dissolution media is improved, which is related to
the chemical structure of the excipients. Surfactants,
for example, such as poloxamer, consist of hydrophilic
and hydrophobic components. The hydrophobic
component can bind to the drug molecule while the
hydrophilic component binds with the aqueous phase
and effectively pulls the molecule into solution by
accelerating the contact point between the molecule
and the media.
Poloxamers are frequently used in pharmaceutical
dosage forms and are especially useful when working
with DCS Class IIa molecules. Parteck®
PLX 188 is a
multifunctional high-quality excipient that is specifically
designed for dissolution enhancement of DCS Class
IIa molecules. A block copolymer of polyethylene
oxide and polypropylene oxide, it provides the dual
hydrophobic and hydrophilic effect needed to enhance
dissolution rate. Parteck®
PLX 188 excipient can also
be used as a hydrophilic lubricant, thus allowing the
removal of hydrophobic lubricants such as stearates.
Figure 3 shows how Parteck®
PLX 188 excipient can be
used to enhance dissolution rate of itraconazole.
Parteck®
PLX 188 excipient is also compatible with
direct compression and has an optimized particle
size distribution making it well-suited for continuous
manufacturing processes. Figure 4 shows that direct
compression yields hard and consistent tablets in
terms of size, shape, and weight even when the
excipient is at a high percentage (30%) in the tablet
blend.
From a regulatory perspective Parteck®
PLX 188
excipient is multi-compendial and exceeds the
regulatory requirements for specified formaldehyde
content. As an Emprove®
Essential qualified
product, Parteck®
PLX 188 excipient also comes
with an extensive array of quality and regulatory
documentation that can assist in the filing of
applications to regulatory authorities and for internal
risk assessments and Quality by Design (QBD)
approaches.
Figure 3.
Dissolution of itraconazole formulated with Parteck®
PLX 188
excipient.
0 15 30 45 75 90 105 120
Time [min]
60
without PLX
5% PLX (10 kN tablets)
5% PLX (physical mixture)
0.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
Dissolution
[mg/L]
1,000 mL SGFsp pH 1.2; 75 rpm
4.0
0 10 30
Compression force [kN]
20
10% PLX 30% PLX
0
400
300
200
100
Tablet
hardness
[N]
500
Figure 4.
Tablet hardness and weight following direct compression of dosage
forms containing Parteck®
PLX 188 excipient.
Component %
Parteck®
PLX 188 10/30
Parteck®
M 200 DC mannitol 84/64
Crosscarmellose sodium (CCS) 5
Magnesium stearate 1
Component Content [%]
Parteck®
PLX 188 5
Itraconazole 20
Parteck®
M 200 DC mannitol 69
Crosscarmellose sodium (CCS) 5
Magnesium stearate 1
Compression force [kN]
10% PLX 30% PLX
400
500
450
10
5 20 30
Tablet
weight
[mg]
550

4
However, the amorphous solid state is not usually an
energetically stable solid state, and is prone to
re-crystallize back to the thermodynamically stable
crystalline form. Therefore, to take advantage of the
enhanced solubility that this solid state can provide,
formulation technologies must be used to prevent
recrystallization and stabilize the amorphous form.
The most common amorphous formulations are
polymeric amorphous solid dispersions which contain
a combination of drug and polymer, where the polymer
is used as a matrix to stabilize the amorphous form
of the molecule. The two main strategies for achieving
this are spray-drying or melting of the mixture of drug
and polymer. In spray-drying, the mixture of drug and
polymer are dissolved in a favorable co-solvent; the
solution is then spray dried into an SDD. In the melt-
approach – HME – the drug and polymer are mixed,
melted and extruded. In both approaches, the active
pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is immobilized and
stabilized in the amorphous solid state. The polymer
essentially restricts the mobility of the drug, prevents
recrystallization, and stabilizes the amorphous form.
Parteck®
MXP excipient is a synthetic 4-88* polyvinyl
alcohol that has been specifically engineered for the
HME process and is compatible with stable and high
drug loads. Parteck®
MXP excipient also has high
thermal stability, offers flexibility in downstream
processing, and has optimized physical properties
for HME processes. From a regulatory perspective,
Parteck®
MXP excipient is multi-compendial, confor
ming to the United States, European, Japanese and
Chinese Pharmacopoeias.
Thermal stability of the polymer is a crucial conside
ration in HME, especially when formulating drugs with
very high melting points. Parteck®
MXP excipient offers
increased solubility across a full range of APIs with no
indication of chemical or physical instability (Table 1),
also for challenging molecules such as telmisartan,
which has a melting point of 260 °C.
Figure 5.
Solubility of DCS IIb molecules can be enhanced with the amorphous
form.
Table 1.
Parteck®
MXP enhances solubility for a diverse set of APIs with
different melting points.
** Plasticizer required.
Formulation Strategies for DCS IIb
Molecules
Compared with DCS Class IIa, DCS Class IIb molecules
present a greater challenge to formulators due to their
truly low solubility. In this case, the formulation must
be fundamentally altered to ensure enhanced solubility
and generation of supersaturation, or solubility above
thermodynamic concentrations. One way to accomplish
this is with solid-state modification of the crystalline
form, which is the most common solid-state in pharma
ceutical pipelines.
The crystalline solid-state, while good for stability,
can be an issue for DCS IIb molecules, as the strong
crystal bonds that hold the crystal lattice together must
be broken for solubilization to occur. The amorphous
solid state, on the other hand, while chemically identical
to the crystal, does not contain a crystal lattice and
the energy required to solubilize this state is
substantially lower. Therefore, the amorphous solid
state is substantially more soluble than its crystalline
counterpart (Figure 5).
Crystalline
Solid
Solid in
Solution
Amorphous
Solid
Crystal Lattice
Energy Energy
Solvation
*
The PVA grade naming convention (e.g. 4-88) specifies the
apparent viscosity in mPas of a 4% aqueous solution at 20 °C
(first number) and the hydrolysis grade (second number).
API BCS IIIV Tm of API
Loading
Capacity
Solubility
Enhancement
(max.)
Ibuprofen** 78 °C 30% 2 ×
Cinnarizine 118–122 °C 20% 10 ×
Indomethacin 151 °C 50% 3 ×
Ketoconazole 146 °C 35% 17 ×
Naproxen 152 °C 30% 4 ×
Atorvastatin 159– 160 °C 55% 154 ×
Itraconazole 167 °C 30% 80 ×
Carbamazepine 204 °C 30% 2 ×
Telmisartan** 260 °C 15% 35 ×

5
Figure 7 shows the amount of itraconazole absorbed
through that CaCo-2 cell monolayer into the receiver
phase. A very low concentration of the crystalline
itraconazole is absorbed (A) compared to an
approximately 20 to 50 fold enhancement for the
itraconazole extruded with Parteck®
MXP excipient.
Figure 7.
Comparison of absorption of crystalline itraconzole (A) and itraconazole extruded with Parteck®
MXP excipient (B).
Figure 6.
Comparison of dissolution of crystalline itraconazole (A) and itraconazole extruded with Parteck®
MXP excipient (B).
Conditions: Milled extrudates itraconazole: PVA, 30% drug
load. Measurement made using iDAS permeability system, Donor buffer: HBSSg,
pH 6.5, Receiver buffer: HBSSg,
pH 7.4, containing 4.5% BSA modified SGF, 37 °C, stirring
Conditions: Milled extrudates itraconazole: PVA, 30% drug
load. Measurement made using iDAS permeability system,Donor buffer: HBSSg,
pH 6.5, Receiver buffer: HBSSg,
pH 7.4, containing 4.5% BSA modified SGF, 37 °C, stirring
Dissolution
[mg/L]
Time [min]
0
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
7,000
Crystalline Itraconazole
Concentration of itraconazole in donor well
120
60
15
5 30 180
Caco-2 cell monolayer
Receiver
Donor
A
Dissolution
[mg/L]
Time [min]
0
6,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
7,000
Itraconazole: PVA Extrudate
Concentration of itraconazole in donor well
120
60
15
5 30 180
B
Itraconazole: PVA Extrudate
Concentration of itraconazole in receiver well
Concentration
[ng/mL]
Time [min]
0
600
500
40
30
20
10
700
800
900
1,000
120
60
15
5 30 180
B
Crystalline Itraconazole
Concentration of itraconazole in receiver well
Caco-2 cell monolayer
Receiver
Donor
Concentration
[ng/mL]
Time [min]
0
600
500
40
30
20
10
700
800
900
1,000
120
60
15
5 30 180
A
Figure 5 demonstrates how Parteck®
MXP excipient,
when extruded with itraconazole, increases dissolution
in a biphasic dissolution apparatus. The apparatus
consists of a donor phase and a receiver phase
separated by a monolayer of CaCo-2 cells and can be
used to differentiate between dissolution and absorp
tion. With crystalline itraconazole, the solubility in the
donor well is low (Figure 6A) while the itraconazole
extruded with Parteck®
MXP excipient demonstrates a
roughly tenfold enhancement in solubility (Figure 6B).

6
Dissolution of itraconazole formulations with Parteck®
MXP excipient were also compared to commercially
available HME and SDD formulations of the drug
(Figure 8). Parteck®
MXP excipient formulations show
a very strong dissolution performance compared
to the commercially available HME formulation
and outperforms the commercially available SDD
formulation. Furthermore, the formulation with
Parteck®
MXP excipient was much simpler that the
others, requiring fewer additional excipients.
In summary, solid-state modification using Parteck®
MXP excipient in HME can be used to create a
fundamental shift in the magnitude of the solubility of
the molecules and is thus well-suited for DCS Class IIb
molecules.
While polymers are the gold standard for solid
dispersion technologies, alternative approaches have
been used to great success, such as mesoporous
silica. Silicon dioxide has been used for decades
in pharmaceutical applications primarily as a
glidant. In addition, mesoporous silica is generally
recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Parteck®
SLC
excipient is a mesoporous silica carrier and, from a
regulatory perspective, conforms to the United States
Pharmacopoeia and European Pharmacopoeia.
Parteck®
SLC excipient is a mesoporous silica carrier
with 6 nm pores, which are critical for stabilization of
the amorphous form. It stabilizes the amorphous form
of a poorly soluble molecule by steric confinement
in its nanosized pores. In short, molecules are first
dissolved in an organic solvent, which breaks down
the crystal lattice. This concentrated solution of the
drug is then combined with Parteck®
SLC excipient
which, like a molecular sponge, is able to adsorb the
solution within its porous structure. The solvent is then
removed, and the molecule is left confined within the
6 nm pore and therefore stabilized in its amorphous
form (Figure 9).
At a very basic level, this can be achieved using simple
laboratory equipment such as rotary evaporators,
or syringe pumps, but this process has also been
validated at commercial scale.
Figure 8.
Comparison of Parteck®
MXP excipient formulations with commercially
available products.
Marketed product A using hot
melt extrusion:
Colloidal SiO2
Crospovidone
Hydrogenated vegetable oil
HPMC
MCC
Lactose
Mg stearate
PEG
Talc
Titanium dioxide
Marketed product B
using spray drying:
Glucose syrup
Hypromellose
Indigo carmin
Macrogol 20,000
Starch
Sacrose
Titanium dioxide
Figure 9.
DSC thermogram of fenofibrate in its crystalline state and after
loading on Parteck®
SLC excipient.
0 20 40 80 100 120
Time [min]
60
Marketed product A
Marketed product B Crystalline itraconazole
PVA capsule
0
80
100
40
60
20
Dissolution
[%]
120
Dissolution method: FDA recommended conditions for
itraconazole capsules, 900 mL SGF, 37 °C, 100 rpm, 100 mg
itraconazole, 30% drug load.
The suitability of this approach was investigated for a
variety of APIs, including fenofibrate, a poorly soluble
molecule typically categorized as DCS Class IIb. DSC
results presented in Figure 9 confirm the amorphous
state of fenofibrate after loading on Parteck®
SLC
excipient. Dissolution of a fenofibrate loaded silica
is shown in Figure 10. Enhancement of the inherent
solubility of fenofibrate requires use of a precipitation
inhibitor to stop the inevitable precipitation out of the
super saturated state.
Crystalline API
Parteck®
SLC excipient, API load 30%
DSC
95 °C
90
85
80
75
70
Parteck®
MXP capsule:
PVA
HPMC (Capsule)

Figure 10.
In-vitro dissolution (A) and in-vivo bioavailability (B) of fenofibrate
loaded onto Parteck®
SLC excipient.
Conclusion
The DCS is an extremely useful tool for decision
making during development of poorly soluble drug
formulations. By enhancing understanding of the root
causes of solubility issues, the number of resources
needed to develop formulations can be significantly
reduced and applied in a more directed and strategic
manner.
The DCS is designed to allow differentiation of Class
IIa and Class IIb molecules. Class IIa molecules
have a slow dissolution rate and therefore simple
strategies such as particle size reduction or incorpo
ration of wetting agents or surfactants such as
Parteck®
PLX excipient can be used. Parteck®
PLX 188
is a single excipient that provides multiple functional
ities, improves process efficiency via an enhancement
of dissolution, and is also compatible with future
manufacturing capabilities. In contrast, DCS Class IIb
molecules have low solubility and require more complex
formulation to enhance their inherent solubility. One
example is stabilization of the amorphous solid state
using amorphous solid dispersions, such as with
Parteck®
MXP excipient and HME or via loading onto
a porous carrier such as Parteck®
SLC excipient.
With solubility remaining a critical part of formulation
development, access to a diverse set of excipients is
essential. Once the underlying cause of low solubility
is defined with the DCS, a variety of solutions can be
explored and applied to help ensure the success of
a new therapeutic.
References
1. Amidon GL, Lennernäs H, et al. A Theoretical Basis for a
Biopharmaceutic Drug Classification: The Correlation of in-vitro
Drug Product Dissolution and in-vivo Bioavailability. Pharmaceutical
Research. 1995;12(3):413–20.
2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Guidance for industry –
Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms: Scale-Up and Post-
Approval Changes. November 1995.
3. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Guidance for Industry –
M9 Biopharmaceutics Classification System-Based Biowaivers.
May 2021.
4. Göke K, Lorenz T, et al. Novel strategies for the formulation and
processing of poorly water-soluble drugs. European Journal of
Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 2018;126:40–56.
5. Benet LZ. The Role of BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification
System) and BDDCS (Biopharmaceutics Drug Disposition
Classification System) in Drug Development. Journal of
Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2013;102(1):34–42.
6. Butler JM, Dressman JB. The developability classification system:
application of biopharmaceutics concepts to formulation develop
ment. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2010;99(12):4940–54.
7. Remington Education, Smith, Blaine Templar. Physical Pharmacy,
2016.
The biorelevant dissolution of fenofibrate loaded
silica in a suspension and a capsule were compared
to a reference capsule containing the crystalline
fenofibrate (Figure 10A). There was substantial
improvement in dissolution of the mesoporous silica
formulations and the inherent solubility when loaded
onto Parteck®
SLC excipient. The data correlates with
in-vivo bioavailability in pigs (Figure 10B). Both the
silica suspension and the silica capsules substantially
outperform the crystalline fenofibrate and enhanced
the oral bioavailability of this molecule.
B
Plasma
concentration
[ng/mL]
0 5 20 25
Time [h]
In-vivo bioviability in fasted pigs
10
3,500
4,000
2,500
3,000
2,000
1,000
500
15
n = 6
Reference capsule Silica capsule
Silica suspension
1,500
0 30 90 120
Time [min]
Biorelevant in-vitro dissolution
60
0
80
100
40
60
20
Dissolution
[%]
n = 3
Reference capsule
Silica suspension
Silica capsule
A
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Lit. No. MS_WP8954EN
02/2022
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