Endocrinology

Among the numerous elements of the endocrine system, the thyroid has been extensively studied for decades due to its many functions: it affects heart rate, cholesterol levels, body weight, energy levels, muscle strength, skin condition, vision, menstrual regularity, mental state and many other conditions.

As thyroid hormones affect cellular mechanisms, they help to control how the body uses energy and how well cells, tissues and organs work. An underactive thyroid can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility, heart disease and depression. Thyroid disorders are widely under-diagnosed and under-treated, especially in developing countries.

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common chronic disorders worldwide, affecting up to 2% of the planet’s population and up to 4-6% in Western countries, making it necessary for most patients to commit to lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy. The guidelines recently published by the American Thyroid Association recognize levothyroxine as the most prescribed therapeutic choice for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

IBSA has developed and patented a new manufacturing system that is a milestone advance in a field that has been at a standstill for several years.

IBSA drugs for thyroid hormone replacement therapy are available in a wide range of 12 strengths, from 13 to 200 micrograms of levothyroxine. There is also a new innovative pharmaceutical form of soft gel capsules, which contains less excipients compared to a standard tablet, and ensures consistent dosage and long-term drug stability. Dissolution of the drug in the form of a gel capsule is also less dependent on the pH of the stomach compared to the tablet form, and a change in the pH of the stomach is therefore unlikely to affect the absorption of the active ingredient.