Inhaled Routes for Delivering Biologics

Inhaled or nasal routes for delivering biologics have the potential for targeted delivery of the drug to the respiratory system with potentially a lower dose than an alternative systemic delivery route. Intertek's experts Mark Parry, Technical Director, Inhalation Development, and Ashleigh Wake, Biologics Director, were asked to contribute to a review of alternative routes for delivery of biopharmaceuticals, published in May 2017 issue of Pharmaceutical Technology. The full article can be accessed here:

A. Siew, Alternative Routes for Delivering Macromolecules," Pharmaceutical Technology 41 (5) 2017

The majority of biologic therapeutics are administered by injection, however, there is a growing interest in inhaled delivery routes which present a more patient-friendly mode of administration with other benefits, such as favorable bioavailability. Whilst there are potentially multiple benefits to inhaled routes of delivery, there remain many challenges to overcome to achieve a safe and effective inhaled drug product. Challenges exist in relation to the drug formulation, compatibility with the device type and the testing requirements which can help determine the product performance in delivering the correct dose to the correct target in the oral or nasal cavity or lungs and also whether the structure or activity of the biologic is impacted by the delivery mechanism of the device.