Drug Delivery

The US Food and Drug Administration advised patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to switch to hydrofluoroalkane-propelled albuterol inhalers now because chlorofluorocarbon-propelled inhalers will not be available in the US after Dec. 31, 2008.

Nanoparticle-based systems present many advantages for the delivery of current and emerging biological drugs.

Letting the public inside the drug development process may increase their faith in what we do.

Although the spotlight is now on nanoparticulate delivery for biologicals, other strategies have proven successful.

The good, the bad, and the ugly about direct-to-consumer advertising.

University of Calgary biochemists used computer simulation in a new toxicity study to predict how "buckyballs," carbon-60 soccer ball-shaped nanomolecules, could damage animal cells.

Also, GVK BIO and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals form research agreement, Eli Lilly announces changes to management, more...

Cambridge Consultants is developing a low-cost portable instrument to test respiratory drug-delivery devices.

Also, Pfizer to close Indiana "Exubera" facility, executive appointments at Patheon, more...

Also, Quintiles Transnational to acquire Eidetics, ChemAxon appoints Alex Drijver CEO, more...

Researchers at the University of Southern California's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) demonstrated a way to manufacture miniscule containers called voxels that could potentially deliver precise microdoses or even nanodoses of drugs.

Also, FDA removes OAI status for Watson's Florida facility, executive management changes as GSK, more...

Polyplus-transfection, a company that researches, develops, and commercializes drug-delivery solutions for biomolecules, created a new technology designed to enhance in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) when they are associated with a cationic polymer.

Scientists are giving up on a preventive vaccine for AIDS, but there are lessons to be learned.

Insulin is one of the world's oldest and most well-known biological drugs, and the need for it is not going to go away as the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes continues to increase. A wealth of clinical evidence shows that good, long-term glucose control in diabetes is key to avoiding complications such as kidney disease, blindness and heart problems.

The adequate absorption and transport of drugs in the body is part of optimal therapy. Drug administration perorally is easy, common and traditional, but occasionally alternative routes are required.

Also, Genzyme to build R&D center in Beijing, Noven Pharmaceuticals appoints Peter C. Brandt president and CEO, more...

Also, GSK expands in Ireland, executive appointments at ProGenTech, more...

MannKind suspended discussions with potential partners for the commercialization of its "Technosphere Insulin" product.

Also, Alcon plans to open Singapore facility, Pharmacopeia president and CEO retired, more...

Also, Jubilant Organosys to acquire DRAXIS Health, PPD's Paul Covington to retire, more...

Also, VaxGen and Raven terminate merger agreement, Darren Head appointed CEO of Cytovance, more...

A reference book omits important information and ignores advanced testing procedures.

The FDA itself issues a cry for help. Is anybody listening?

Companies continue to develop inhaled insulin and other drugs, despite the problems that Pfizer's "Exubera" experienced.

What makes a drug ripe for respiratory delivery?

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) forms an interface between the circulating blood and the brain, and functions as a tremendously effective barrier for the delivery of potential neurotherapeutics into the brain parenchyma. Conversely, the BBB possesses various carrier-mediated transport systems for the uptake of small molecules, such as essential nutrients and vitamins. These transporters have become an attractive target for drug/prodrug design in an attempt to ferry drug molecules across the BBB. Central nervous system (CNS) drug delivery is often limited by poor brain penetration of the potential drug candidate. As a result of its unique barrier properties, the BBB poses a huge challenge for the delivery of potential neurotherapeutics into the brain parenchyma.1 It is estimated that only 2% of small-molecule drugs and ,0.1% of novel protein and peptide pharmaceuticals developed for CNS diseases reach therapeutic concentrations in the brain.2,3 Many of the pharmacologically active drugs tend to fail..

Our company is involved in developing and manufacturing APIs that can be utilized with drug-eluting stents (DES). Despite ensuring constancy in pharmaceutical composition, we are experiencing issues with variations in drug release during in vitro studies. We are working closely with a stent manufacturer to develop the system, but could surface analysis techniques investigate the problem further?

Spraying techniques can be used to produce powder form formulations. The concept works by the adsorption/absorption of a liquid SELF onto a neutral carrier…

A microelectronic system based on radio-frequency (RF) cell ablation addresses limitations of other transdermal drug-delivery methods. This system expands the transdermal spectrum to include the delivery of water-soluble molecules, peptides, proteins, and other macromolecules.