Introducing ModulaSENSE® Bitter: a receptor-level breakthrough in drug taste modulation

Summary 

• Palatability remains a concern in increasingly complex drug formulations.
• Over 60% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are inherently bitter.^1,2
• Studies show that poor taste can negatively impact patient adherence.
• ModulaSENSE^® Bitter targets bitterness at the receptor level, helping to improve drug palatability and patient acceptance.

The measurable impact of taste on compliance

Palatability is defined as the quality of a drug product that makes it pleasant or acceptable in terms of taste, after-taste, smell, and texture.³ It is a critical factor in influencing how patients perceive medicines and whether or not they adhere to recommended regimens, studies indicating that up to 64% of patients may be at risk of discontinuing treatment due to unpleasant taste in medicines.⁴ This is particularly relevant for vulnerable populations – such as pediatric and geriatric patients – as their heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli can directly interfere with therapeutic success. Regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have also highlighted the importance of taste and acceptability, especially in these susceptible groups.^5,6

The biology behind bitterness

Humans are biologically adapted to repel unpleasant tastes, particularly bitterness, which is thought to serve as a warning mechanism for toxic substances found in nature. Bitterness perception is mediated by a family of 25 bitter taste receptors known as TAS2Rs or T2Rs.⁷ This presents a widespread challenge for pharmaceutical formulators, as more than 60% of APIs are intrinsically bitter and capable of activating these receptors, eliciting an aversive response.^1,2 Bitterness perception also varies between individuals, which compounds the issue and makes it difficult to rely on one-size-fits-all strategies. Traditional approaches often depend on adding sweeteners, flavor solutions, or other taste-masking actives to override unpleasant notes, however, these generic methods do not address the underlying issue of receptor activation and may introduce formulation constraints.

Targeting bitterness at the receptor level

ModulaSENSE^® Bitter takes a novel approach to tackling bitterness in drug formulations, harnessing proprietary receptor-based discovery methods and sensory validation to elevate drug palatability and, ultimately, help to improve patient adherence. Instead of relying on generic taste masking solutions, ModulaSENSE^® Bitter combines multiple taste modulation approaches with evidence-based insights to create targeted, formulation-specific bitterness masking strategies. These solutions strategically integrate multiple approaches, from bitter blockers and maskers to sweeteners and evidence-based formulation insights. By taking a multi-step, science-driven workflow, the technology targets bitterness reduction tailored to the API and dosage form. Furthermore, it is applicable across a wide range of oral formulations – including solid, liquid and semi-solid dosage forms – leading to improved palatability across demographics.

Built for pharmaceutical development

ModulaSENSE^® Bitter has been designed with the pressures facing drug developers – sensory performance, regulatory compliance, and time-to-market – in mind. Each solution is accompanied by comprehensive technical documentation, structured sensory evaluation, and a dedicated regulatory package to help streamline formulation development and meet global filing requirements.

At dsm-firmenich, we use a state-of-the-art tasting protocol that enables our trained sensory panel to safely evaluate a wide range of APIs in a controlled environment. This unique capability strengthens customer collaborations, allowing us to design tailored bitterness mitigation strategies that match the requirements of each API and end product profile. By combining scientific rigor with sensory expertise, we help to accelerate development timelines while meeting patient and healthcare professional expectations for better tasting, more acceptable therapies.

Summary: elevating patient-centric innovation

The drug formulation process is becoming increasingly complex, thanks to the emergence of novel APIs and advanced drug delivery systems. At the same time, improving the patient experience remains a critical objective, making palatability an important consideration in pharmaceutical development. ModulaSENSE^® Bitter addresses these challenges by targeting bitterness at the receptor level. By combining proprietary receptor-based discovery methods with expert sensory validation, this technology enables targeted bitterness reduction and improved palatability across a wide range of oral dosage forms.