The pellets for pharmaceutical applications are dosage forms multiarticulate in spherical or semi-spherical shape with free flow and a stretch size distribution, that oscillate typically between 500 and 2000 um (0,5 – 0,2 mm). They are produced through pelletization (in a spheronizer) by which a mix of powder that consists in an API and excipients is agglomerated in the form of final pellets. Usually they are used to fill hard gel capsules or are compressed in tablets. Besides, they can be formulated as dosage forms of immediate release or prolonged release of the drug, and can also be covered in order to administer a drug in a specific action place in the gastrointestinal tract.

The products of Direct Compression (DC) are based on the design of mixtures “ready to be compressed” of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s) and excipients, in form of granules with adequate properties of compactability, fluency and low tendency to segregation, that may be fed directly from the hopper for compression as tablets; this is how the final step of the process must be completed in order to achieve a considerable reduction in production costs.
Pharmaceutical Formulation Intermediates (PFIs) is a commercial term used for Direct Compression mixtures formulated in accordance with the client’s specific requirements.
The DCs and PFIs are economic forms for the clients, since they allow saving expenses in research and development, quality control, supply chain and manufacture.

A finished dosage form (FDF) is the individualized disposition to which the medicinal substances (active ingredients) and excipients (pharmacologically inactive matter) are adapted to constitute a medicine, in order to facilitate its fractionation, dosage and administration.