Nasal Delivery of Biologics: A Whole New Ball Game

The nasal drug delivery of biologics is in its infancy but fast-emerging as a commercially viable option as evidenced by Baqsimi®, a nasal powder containing 10% glucagon (a peptide) now prescribed for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia. This talk takes an introductory look at the challenges associated with delivering biologics via the nose, highlighting differences relative to conventional small drug molecule delivery.

The larger size of biologics, their complex structure and sensitivity to stress all have implications when it comes to nasal drug delivery. Both formulation and delivery can impose significant stress on the drug molecule which must necessarily maintain its structure to ensure clinical efficacy and safety. The potential to control stability via formulation design is highlighted with reference to the manipulation of formulation properties such as pH, osmolality, and the use of stabilizing agents. The need to tailor deposition and permeation targets to address clinical goals is also discussed. The talk concludes with a brief introduction to alternative device types and powder production processes and will be of interest to anyone looking for insight into this fascinating, relatively new area of drug delivery.

A talk delivered by Gemma Budd at CPhI, November 2022