Expanding Opportunities For Inhaled Drug Delivery

By Gunilla Petersson, Ph.D.

Administering drugs directly to the lungs is becoming more popular, not only for treating common respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD but also for delivering drugs throughout the body. While traditional oral and injection methods are common, they often require higher doses and can cause unwanted side effects.

The lung offers a fast, non-invasive, and efficient way to deliver drugs. This is beneficial for conditions requiring quick action, such as neurological disorders, acute pain, and even as an alternative to insulin injections for diabetics.

Despite these advantages, drug delivery to the lungs faces challenges due to the complex airway structure, protective barriers, and the need for effective inhaler technology. However, directly targeting the lungs for respiratory diseases allows for lower doses, fewer side effects, and is especially advantageous for delivering expensive new biologics or gene therapies. The text also mentions it will explore the challenges of lung drug delivery, focusing on the benefits of nanoparticles and gentle particle processing for sensitive drugs.