Panel Discussion: ‘Beyond pills: Deep diving into revolutions in drug delivery’

Moderator:
+ Mr Vinod Arora, Principal Advisor, IGMPI

Panelists in this video:
+ Dr Rakesh Kumar Bhasin, Head R&D (Formulations), Biocon
+ Mr Mathivanan Rajagopal, VP and Head – R&D, Axxelent Pharma Science
+ Mr Mahesh Gavasane, GM and Head of Downstream and Formulation, BSV
+ Dr Sajeev Chandran, VP-Pharma R&D, Lupin
+ Dr Sandhya Shenoy, Associate VP-R&D – Formulation, IPCA Laboratories
+ Dr Anil Kumar R, Sr VP – R&D & MSAT, Strides Pharma

Key Highlights:
[1] We are witnessing a lot of progress in drug delivery driven by patient needs, advancements in science and technology and ease of use.

[2] Self-administered drug delivery is an evolving segment. Though there are signifcant regulatory and compatibility challenges in their development, these systems such as prefilled syringes and autoinjectors are vital for emergencies and chronic conditions.

[3] Inhalation drug delivery systems offer more targeted delivery, are non-invasive and more patient-centric. We are seeing a lot of research on these systems, especially for vaccines and biologics.

[4] Topical formulations are non-invasive, decreases dosing frequency, reduces drug toxicity and improves patient compliance. However, development of topical drugs are challenging as skin is a major barrier for entry of drugs into the body and several physicochemical parameters need to be considered

[5] Depot injections allow slow release of the drug into the body, over weeks or even months and thus helps patients to reduce frequency of medication. They can be supplied in vials, dual cartridge systems or pre filled syringes. However, challenges in developing them include establishing bioequivalency and heat sensitivity.

[6] Implants can control drug release, reduce side effects, and improve safety and efficacy of treatment. They are finding increased application across various therapeutics areas.