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Next Generation Nebulized Therapy: Opportunities for New Treatments and Devices

Pritchard JN, Nazarzadeh E.

Respiratory Drug Delivery 2022. Volume , 2022: 103-112.

Abstract:

As evidenced by a review of clinical trial databases, nebulized therapy is enjoying a resurgence in interest. In the last two years, this has been driven by the search for treatments for COVID-19, but the underlying trend is still upwards. This reflects the growing incidence of respiratory diseases and the opportunity to use nebulizers to topically treat the respiratory tract with less potent drugs such as anti-infectives and biologics. At the same time, the commercial environment has become more favorable, with new products being approved as drug-device combinations, giving a degree of market exclusivity, even without patent protection for drug or device. However, of concern, there has been a rise in the proportion of trials not specifying the nebulizer type. Given the differing ability of nebulizer types to deliver the drug formulations to the lungs successfully, it is important that the correct nebulizer is paired with the drug formulation. This is particularly true of biologics, prompting the search for technologies that can atomize often viscous formulations without losing the activity of the molecule. One approach is to use surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulization. Initially, this approach resulted in low output rate and very large droplet production. However, recent advances have made SAW technology well suited to efficient delivery of the next generation of respiratory treatments, while offering device manufacturers new opportunities for patent protection.