Friday, November 8, 2019

Recent Advancements in Drug Delivery: Novel Drug Formulations & Technologies:




The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have come a long way when it comes to advancements in drug discovery. New “druggable” targets and mechanistic approaches to treating even complex diseases are constantly discovered and optimized, generating a rich pipeline and continuous supply of fresh therapeutics for difficult diseases, such as autoimmune inflammatory disorders (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), cancer, hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases, as well as neurological conditions.


However, developing a safe and effective drug is only part of the picture – perfecting the delivery of that drug into the patient is also a significant aspect of the total pharmacotherapeutic regimen. It is generally accepted by the pharmaceutical industry that the oral route of delivery is most preferred by the patient. For example, biologicals, such as vaccines or therapeutic antibodies, typically must be injected directly into the bloodstream because oral ingestion would result in the destruction of the fragile protein composition. Also, orally administered drugs tend to be distributed systemically, whereas the diseased portion of the body may be localized to a single organ or tissue. Thus, oral administration and systemic distribution may result in unnecessary exposure to the drug and unwanted side effects that could potentially be avoided with targeted drug delivery and isolation at the source of disease.




Recent Developments in Injectable Drug Delivery:



Products like tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs for diabetes offer patients true disease-modifying benefits as opposed to simply treating the symptoms, and these benefits generally, outweigh the discomfort associated with the injection. All other things being equal, subcutaneous is generally the preferred injectable route as it can be easily performed by the patient at home using delivery devices, such as auto-injectors or pen injectors. However, even with the most sophisticated pen injectors, it still may be considered an unpleasant experience by many patients.


Tailoring the delivery of injectable drugs is mainly dependant on the specifics of two parameters: formulation and device. When the injection is a necessity, new delivery technologies can improve the experience in several ways.  Detailing upgrades can decrease the recurrence of the administration, lessen the volume required for every infusion, or diminish reactions related to the definition, for example, immunogenicity. Delivery device improvements, for example, a smaller needle or auto-injectors that improve ease of self-infusion, can fundamentally improve the patient experience. Although the pharmaceutical industry makes many attempts to move away from injectable administration, injectable drugs continue to fill the development pipeline as demonstrated in Figures 2 and 3.



Several companies are making great strides in improving the patient experience of self-injection which resembles an adhesive patch rather than a typical pen injector. It will be like a disposable pump that slowly delivers a subcutaneous dose of medication over a period ranging from 5 seconds to 24 hours and can deliver volumes up to 5 milliliters. Rather than having to perform self-injection by pinching the skin and holding a pen injector in place, the patient simply adheres to this pump-patch to a suitable location, such as the abdomen, and, with the press of a button, the device slowly injects the medication. In addition to improving ease of use, the slow delivery also reduces trauma and discomfort associated with the injection of larger volumes because the drug is allowed to slowly scatter instead of framing a pocket underneath the skin. Because the device uses hydraulic power of an expandable gel to drive the injection, the shelf life and utility are greatly enhanced compared to a device that relies on battery power. This device could be used with any drug with no need to reformulate, and even high-viscosity formulations can be successfully delivered.


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Recent Advancements in Drug Delivery: Novel Drug Formulations & Technologies:

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have come a long way when it comes to advancements in drug discovery. New “druggable”...