Optimising pulmonary delivery of large and small molecules and overcoming the complexities associated with the pharmaceutical development of inhaled products
Inhaled drug delivery has long been established as the primary drug delivery mechanism for the treatment of common diseases of the airways, primarily asthma and COPD. However, many of the drug delivery technologies used in existing products are relatively inefficient - and there is major scope for improvements, including developing products for rare, less well treated lung diseases, where the airways can be severely compromised. Optimising the delivery of new products to poorly ventilated, compromised lungs is challenging and requires novel approaches to pulmonary drug delivery.
The majority of existing medicines for the treatment of respiratory disease contain small molecule drug substances delivered by inhalation. Large molecule-based therapies (which are primarily delivered as injectable products) chould also be candidates for inhalation as they can target the lung directly; reduce the total dose administered and avoid the need for regular injections. However, large molecules often have challenging properties that require novel devices and technologies to deliver the active compound to specific lung regions, and with high efficiency.
This webinar will discuss how with careful design, innovative formulation and device/manufacturing technologies can achieve efficient and reproducible inhaled drug delivery in patients with a broad spectrum of lung disease.
More specifically, this webinar will highlight:
- Novel dry powder and aqueous delivery systems that are now defining the next generation of products for the treatment of respiratory disease.
- How these devices can lead to a rapid onset of action whilst bypassing the gastrointestinal system and first pass metabolism in the liver.
- The particular challenges and benefits of delivering large molecules by inhalation.
Whether you are an experienced developer of inhaled products, or are new to this field, this webinar will discuss some of the key challenges faced in developing the next generation of inhaled products. Register for this webinar to learn how the most recent advances in inhaled drug delivery are being applied to this exciting and rapidly evolving field.
Presented by
Dr Peter Hirst,
Director, Corporate Development
Peter leads Vectura’s Business Development team. Joining Vectura almost 10 years ago, he has an in-depth knowledge of the respiratory disease landscape gained through academic and industry experience. A registered Pharmacist, Peter completed a PhD at the University of Bath, UK, researching pathogenicity associated with cystic fibrosis lung infections. Peter’s career in the pharmaceutical industry has focused on inhaled drug delivery in a number of scientific and Business Development roles, which have including working in an entrepreneurial UK start-up through to a large US development organisation.
Stephen Eason,
Senior Director, Device & Technology Development
Stephen joined Vectura in 2002. He is responsible for development of the company’s dry powder inhaler and smart nebuliser devices, together with the associated formulation technologies. Prior to joining Vectura he was an Associate Director at Cambridge Consultants where he carried out significant developments in the areas of inhalation, injection and infusion products. Stephen has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London.
Dr Sandy Munro,
Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Sandy has worked in inhaled product development for over 25 years and has been at Vectura since 2008 in a variety roles relating to the leadership of the company’s pharmaceutical development activities. Prior to joining Vectura, Sandy worked at GSK for 20 years and latterly in the role of global director of inhaled science and technology. Sandy has a chemistry degree from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from UEAthe University of East Anglia, UK.