Using the refined Developability Classification System (rDCS) to guide the design of oral formulations

The refined Developability Classification System (rDCS) provides a comprehensive animal-free approach for assessing biopharmaceutical risks associated with developing oral formulations. This work demonstrates practical application of a recently advanced rDCS framework guiding formulation design for six diverse active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and compares rDCS classifications with those of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). While the BCS assigns five of the APIs to class II/IV, indicating potentially unfavorable biopharmaceutical attributes, the rDCS provides a more nuanced risk assessment. Both BCS and rDCS assign acetaminophen to class I at therapeutic doses. Voriconazole and lemborexant (both BCS II) are classified in rDCS class I at therapeutic doses, indicating suitability for development as conventional oral formulations. Fedratinib is classified as BCS IV but the rDCS indicates a stratified risk (class I, IIa or IIb), depending on the relevance of supersaturation/precipitation in vivo. Voxelotor and istradefylline (both BCS II) belong to rDCS class IIb, requiring solubility enhancement to achieve adequate oral bioavailability. Comparing the rDCS analysis with literature on development and pharmacokinetics demonstrates that the rDCS reliably supports oral formulation design over a wide range of API characteristics, thus providing a strong foundation for guiding development.