The industry is committed to improving patient outcomes through the continuous development of innovative drugs, vaccines, and therapies. One area of focus for this innovation is drug delivery.

Administration of biological drugs and vaccines is challenged by painful methods using needles or invasive methods, often adversely affecting patient compliance. For CNS drugs, currently the most common method of delivery is through invasive intra-CNS devices. Additionally, efficacy of parenteral drugs and vaccines can be negatively affected by non-optimal targeting to sites other than that of the natural biological pathway (e.g., injecting intramuscularly, intravenously, or subcutaneously when the site of the target is mucosal or in the CNS space).

This session highlights innovations intended to enhance the effectiveness, uptake and compliance of injectable biological drugs. Topics include smart molecular designs for less frequent administration, novel technologies for less painful delivery (e.g., microneedles), more effective routes of administration (e.g., intra-nasal), and smart devices with feedback mechanisms to optimize dose and frequency.

The desired outcome for this session is to feature the latest trends in drug delivery and understand how far the challenges can be overcome towards improving patient outcomes and advancing the field.

Session Speakers:

From Blood-Brain Barrier to Blood-brain Interface: Strategies for Drug Delivery to the Brain

Bill Banks, University of Washington

Trends and Developments in Biopharmaceutical Delivery Innovations

Tine Zachariasen, Novo Nordisk A/S

Drug Delivery Innovations for CEPI’s 100 Days Mission

Dimki Patel, CEPI

Thomas Wejs Møller

Appearances