Advances in drug formulation and inhalation device design are creating new opportunities for inhaled drug delivery as an alternative to oral and parenteral delivery methods. Much of the interest in pulmonary delivery of systemic drug therapies is focused on chronic diseases and refractory conditions – aliments that require frequent drug administration for a protracted period of time. The role of device design and development in defining and driving emerging opportunities in this sector cannot be overstated. Nebulizers, metered dose inhalers (MDIs), and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have each found a niche in the quest for optimal treatment and convenient use. While nebulizers have evolved relatively independently of the drug formulations they deliver, the current generation of MDIs and DPIs have been developed or tailored for the specific pharmaceutical being delivered, resulting in improved performance. Several of the emerging drug products covered in this report will have a significant impact in the therapeutic markets they target, improving patient compliance and effectively changing the way important illnesses and conditions are treated.

Publication Date: May 2008