# Star-Shaped Drug Capsules This Capsule Releases Anti-Retroviral Medication Over Several Days By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2018-01-11 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drug-capsule References: [newatlas](https://newatlas.com/hiv-star-capsule/52914/) & [brighamandwomens.org](http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?sub=0&PageID=2925) A group of researchers working out of [MIT](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oily-gel-for-medicine) and the Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a star-shaped drug capsule that has well and truly brought the medical community one step closer towards allowing people receiving [anti-retroviral drug treatment](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-molecules) to get the benefits of the drug without having to take several doses a week. The fact of the matter is that anti-retroviral drugs, which are used to treat and prevent HIV, need to be taken on a daily basis, but many patients simply lack the discipline to do so. This is where this innovative new drug capsule comes in. Its star-shaped assembly features six arms, each of which contains medication. When the capsule is swallowed, the arms of the capsule slowly release the drug over a period of time, and eventually get excreted out of the body. This is a fine example of innovative structural design being implemented in the pharmaceutical field to enhance [precision drug delivery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nutritional-supplement-delivery). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.6/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 5% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Precision Drug Delivery:** The star-shaped drug capsule demonstrates the potential for innovative structural design in delivering medication with precision. - **Enhanced Patient Compliance:** The use of the star-shaped drug capsule could greatly improve patient compliance by reducing the frequency of medication dosing. - **Sustainable Medication Release:** The slow release mechanism of the capsule presents an opportunity for sustainable drug delivery that minimizes waste and maximizes effectiveness. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Pharmaceutical:** The innovative drug capsule highlights the potential for disruptive advancements in drug delivery within the pharmaceutical industry. - **Medical Technology:** The development of the star-shaped drug capsule showcases the potential for cutting-edge medical technology to revolutionize drug administration and patient care. - **Healthcare:** The implementation of innovative drug delivery systems like the star-shaped capsule has the potential to improve healthcare outcomes and patient experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Smooth Medicine Delivery Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oily-gel-for-medicine.md) - [Modernized Waste-Free Medication Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-medicine-dispenser.md) - [Scar Tissue-Evading Implants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medical-implant.md) - [Biodegradable Supplement Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vapsula.md) - [Revolutionary Life-Saving Medication Storage](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lifesaving-medication.md) - [Wearable Drug Delivery Patches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wearable-injector.md) - [Joystick-Controlled Photographic Pills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pill-camera.md) - [Smart Pill Organizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pill-organizers.md) - [Integrated Smartwatch Pillbox Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/apple-watch-pillbox.md)