HP Works with Centers for Disease Control to 'Print' Trial Drugs for Testing

TechCrunch recently reported that HP's Biohacker technology (if you don't know what biohacking is, here is some more information) is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to "print" and test antibiotics. The HP D300e Digital Dispenser BioPrinter technology can produce any combination of drugs in a variety of doses in a similar fashion to traditional printing, according to the article. The technology uses the same setup as an ink printer, but instead of ink on paper, it produces trial drugs to be used in research.

Although this isn't the first time 3D "printing" has been used experimentally in the medical field - printing viable human tissue is now possible - this particular use could help to curb the antibiotic resistance problem that has been cropping up, according to TechCrunch:

“Once a drug is approved for use, the countdown begins until resistance emerges,” Jean Patel, PhD, D (ABMM), Science Team Lead, Antibiotic Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit at CDC, said in a statement. “To save lives and protect people, it is vital to make technology accessible to hospital labs nationwide. We hope this pilot will help ensure our newest drugs last longer and put gold-standard lab results in healthcare providers’ hands faster.”

The 3D bioprinting sector has been experiencing rapid growth over the last few years and will continue on pace through the next decade, mainly due to R&D, according to market researchers. Innovation in the space includes printing of organs and human tissue, and drug research and development.

To read more about, check out the article from TechCrunch.