For some time now the pulmonary route has been used as a preferential path for drug delivery in a number of lung disease cases, including Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD).
Asthma suffers past and present that have used various versions of the inhaler can tell you, this method of drug delivery can be very effective but at the same time can be ineffective in some more acute cases.
Though inhalation systems have been used for a number of years the science behind them is surprisingly still quite limited. There are over 65 different inhaled products available, yet still we do not know entirely how the location, doses of drugs, and other conditions of the lung and surrounding circulatory system can effect the most efficient therapeutic response.
Scientists now are turning their attention to inhaled medication systems again, as they are so patient friendly. This time however researchers are considering the treatment of systemic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. When you consider the positive effects seen in patient adoption when using inhaled devices versus injection, you can understand the interest the lung is now witnessing as a target for drug delivery.
Much more needs to be understood about the pulmonary system, when you consider the lung is the perfect organ in preventing the invasion of unwanted airborne particles. Yet here scientists are trying to bypass these safety systems to deliver medication, the challenge is to devise a system and drug that can target specific parts of the respiratory tract that are the optimum area for deposition of the drug of a particular concentration.
Researchers are beginning to see results, as we are witnessing more patents being requested in the field. Let us hope we will see new pulmonary therapies to help patients in the not too distant future.