Respiratory Drug Delivery Europe 2009 - In Review

Respiratory Drug Delivery^® symposia (usually referred to as “RDD”) are considered by many senior scientists and managers to be the most important annual meetings to attend when their work involves the development and commercialization of pulmonary and nasal pharmaceutical products, metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers and aqueous spray products. For this reason, RDD Europe 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal was the biggest meeting RDD^® has hosted outside the United States.

The meeting, co-organized with Pfeiffer and Valois Pharma, hosted over 430 participants from 30 countries around the world, including delegates from Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. These were a diverse group of Academics (10%), Industrial Research and Development Scientists (39%), Sales, Marketing & Business professionals (26%), CEOs & Managing Directors (15%), Engineers, Process & Packaging and QbD specialists (9%) and Regulators (1%) representing academia, government, and the pharmaceutical industry.

More than 20 distinguished speakers summarized and debated the state-of-the-art in their areas of expertise, and envisioned developments that will influence drug discoveries, therapeutic opportunities, device designs, treatment innovations, and efficient, internationally acceptable regulatory approval processes for many years into the future. As one speaker, Dr. Sugato De from FDA’s CDRH division noted, “We get a “commercialized" perception from industry regarding the many delivery technologies and devices in development, so it’s truly invaluable to hear directly from academics and researchers in the field."

Companies, universities and groups with regulatory interests presented 55 posters covering topics including propellants and pMDI hardware, powder and liquid-based inhaler designs, in vitro and in vivo product test methods, Quality by Design and computational fluid dynamics implementation strategies, and methods to assess and deliver small molecules and systemically active peptides and vaccines.

Delegates at RDD Europe 2009 had the opportunity to visit 44 exhibitors who reported benefiting from the commercial and networking environment at the meeting’s Technology Exhibition. This exhibition brings together representatives of the world’s pharmaceutical companies active in the nasal and pulmonary areas with their suppliers, service providers and regulators in a relaxed atmosphere that facilitates easy communication. Twelve companies provided in-depth descriptions of their products and services during half-day Workshop sessions.

Presentations by all speaker and poster presenters at RDD Europe 2009 were summarized (in English) in a two volume, peer-reviewed set of books that was given to each conference participant. RDD Online offers access to over 20 years of RDD articles which represent a comprehensive, searchable database that now contains approximately 1,250 instantly downloadable articles that have become a frequently cited source of quality information to which numerous institutions and individuals subscribe worldwide.

The next RDD meeting (RDD 2010) will be held at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, in Orlando, Florida, April 25-29, 2010.

If you’d like to be a part of RDD 2010 please note these deadlines:

• Suggest a speaker or additional topic before August 1, 2009.
• Charles G. Thiel Award nomination deadline: November 30, 2009.
• Submit a poster abstract before the January 8, 2010 deadline.

The organizers of both the US and European meetings thank the audience, presenters, exhibitors and sponsors who have made the annual Respiratory Delivery® Symposium Series such an ongoing success. They look forward to seeing you at future meetings, and invite you to visit www.rddonline.com to learn more.

Photographs produced with permission