Understanding the molecular-level properties of pharmaceutical formulations is essential for optimizing drug dissolution, stability, and delivery performance. In recent years, the structural complexity of formulations has increased significantly, incorporating multiple functional excipients. In this context, NMR spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for evaluating the physicochemical behavior of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients across diverse formulation platforms. NMR enables non-destructive, high-resolution analysis of molecular states under various physical conditions, including solids, solutions, and suspensions. Through techniques such as NMR relaxometry, pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR, and advanced pulse sequences, NMR provides insight into molecular mobility, miscibility, intermolecular interactions, and phase behavior. These molecular characteristics are closely related to key formulation attributes such as physical stability, dissolution performance, and bioavailability. This review outlines the principles and methodological advances in applying NMR to pharmaceutical formulation research, emphasizing its ability to quantify and differentiate complex coexisting states in situ. By offering direct access to critical molecular information, NMR serves as a diagnostic tool and a foundation for rational formulation design and quality control. As formulation strategies continue to evolve, the role of NMR in guiding the development and evaluation of innovative drug delivery systems is expected to become increasingly important.

Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class II and IV drugs face significant challenges owing to poor water solubility, restricting their formulation in liquid delivery forms. The use of polymers, including the loading of drugs into nanoparticles, has attracted attention as an effective strategy for improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. These polymer carrier systems possess a hydrophilic outer shell and a hydrophobic inner core that can encapsulate poorly water-soluble drugs and improve their dispersibility in aqueous environments. Nanosizing techniques provide advantages including increased surface area and dissolution rate. Polymeric carrier systems also provide enhanced delivery efficiencies to specific tissues via passive and active targeting. This review article describes the development of solubilized formulations of water-insoluble drugs using several functional polymers, including polyvinyl alcohol, hyaluronic acid, and styrene–maleic acid copolymers.

This review is a partial summary of the author’s 40 years of research and development at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science. The author has consistently addressed issues of clinical significance and developed drug delivery systems based on new concepts through a change in thinking, free from preconceptions and stereotypes. In this review, the following research and development projects that the author has been involved in are described: a new concept inhalation system applicable to proteins and created based on a patient’s perspective; a radical treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using a nuclear transfer strategy combining lipid nanoparticles and nuclear transfer signals for alveolar regeneration; a glycosylated Nose-to-Brain system for the development of innovative therapeutic agents for Alzheimer’s disease.

Resveratrol is a representative polyphenol compound contained in red wine that shows a preventive effect on ischemic heart disease and was originally reported to explain the cause of the French paradox. Alcoholic beverages, including red wine, have been shown to prevent ischemic heart disease when consumed in small amounts. Red wine, which contains alcohol (ethanol) as well as polyphenols, was reportedly more effective than other alcoholic beverages for reducing the incidence of ischemic heart disease. Resveratrol is known to inhibit the functions of platelets, which play a crucial role in atherosclerosis. In an in vitro study, resveratrol inhibited platelet Ca²⁺ influx and subsequent aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. When administered simultaneously with ethanol, resveratrol at concentrations that did not affect platelet aggregation alone inhibited platelet aggregation more potently than did ethanol alone. Thus, resveratrol and ethanol show an additive inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. A major mechanism by which resveratrol inhibits platelet aggregation is its antioxidant action that scavenges reactive oxygen species, which cause platelet adhesion and aggregation. In addition, resveratrol inhibits capacitative Ca²⁺ influx, a G protein-coupled pathway, which is crucial for platelet activation. Resveratrol also has direct inhibitory effects on cycloxygenase-1 and phospholipase A₂, resulting in decreased production of thromboxane A₂, a potent intrinsic activator of platelets. In addition to suppression of platelet function, resveratrol retards progression of atherosclerosis through inhibiting oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and preventing diabetes and obesity. Thus, resveratrol possesses multiple actions against atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an abundant phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa L., along with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Plant-derived, highly purified CBD oral solution (100 mg/mL) is approved as Epidiolex^® in the United States and as Epidyolex^® in Europe for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex with country-specific labels. CBD appears to reduce the neuronal hyperexcitability through a multimodal mechanism of action, although the precise mechanism remains unknown. Notably, unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD has low affinity for the euphoria-inducing cannabinoid receptor type 1 therefore lacks euphoric effects. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated a low abuse and dependence potential, as well as an absence of withdrawal syndrome of CBD. Despite the lack of abuse potential for CBD, there are concerns related to cannabis and consequently cannabis-derived pharmaceutical products in Japan. Plant-derived, highly purified CBD is currently under investigation for the treatment of drug-resistant seizures in Japanese patients with early-onset epilepsies (jRCT2031220041). This narrative review aims to update healthcare professionals in Japan with results from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the abuse and dependence potentials of CBD.

The primary aim of this study is to examine whether the appearance of pharmacists in Japan is an issue worthy of discussion. A web-based survey was conducted in June 2023 among 500 men and women aged 25–74 (male/female ratio=1 : 1, equally assigned to five age categories). The respondents were asked about their trust in eight pictures of male pharmacists with different appearance factors (trust scale: seven questions, 6-point response). The pictures were combined using an orthogonal table for five factors (hair color (black and brown), hair length (normal and long), accessories, white coat condition (clean and dirty), and clothing under white coat (Y shirt+tie, Y shirt+T-shirt)). The data were analyzed through conjoint analysis. The median age of the 500 respondents was 50.5 (38–62) years. The highest mean confidence score for each of the eight images was 28.8(SD6.4) and the lowest was 16.1 (SD7.1). Conjoint analysis indicated that the relative importance of clothing and hair to trustworthiness was 50.9% and 33.8%, respectively. The condition of the white coat was high at 29.1%. The level utilities scores were 0.341 for “Y-shirt” and −0.008 for “Y-shirt+tie” for clothing under the white coat. Notably, cleanliness of the white coat had a greater impact than hair color or length. The results indicate that the appearance of male pharmacists significantly affects initial trust. Thus, appearance standards for pharmacists, including females, should be actively discussed.