Whether it’s a child unable to swallow a pill or someone who has a strong fear of needles, getting the right medication to the right person can sometimes be a bit more difficult than you think it should be.
Needle fearers and anti-pill advocates have no fear anymore. Scientists have used modern and evolving technology to create a slew of new ways to deliver the necessary drugs to patients in the most comfortable way possible.
3D Printed Wafers
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Three dimensional printing technology is becoming more and more popular, from creating prosthetics to artificial organs. That same technology is also being used to create a new way to deliver medication.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals in Langhorne, Pennsylvania used this technology to develop an oral wafer that has the ability to deliver a medicine dose of more than 50 mg in less than five seconds. According to the company’s website, the wafer also has the ability to distribute a smaller dose, or “nano dose,” with precision and accuracy and biodegradable implants.
This dissolvable wafers are a much easier way to take oral medication, especially if the patient can’t or has a fear of swallowing pills.
Nanoparticles
For cancer patients, this technology is especially intriguing. BIND Therapeutics developed a cancer fighting nanoparticle, called Accurins, that won’t weaken the rest of the body. The nano technology is a type of chemotherapy and announced its FDA Authorization of First-in-Human Clinical Trial under an investigational drug application.
BIND Therapeutics is partnering with AstraZeneca on the development of Accurin AZD2811, which is, “an Aurora B Kinase inhibitor that has been shown to be active in both solid and hematological tumors in preclinical models,” according to a recent company statement. The two companies plan on using this method on patients in a phase 1 clinical trial in the fourth quarter of the year.
BIND Therapeutics is also developing a drug delivery system for inflammation and cardiovascular conditions.
Micro Robotics
Robotics are used in so many things from production to vacuum cleaners. They’ve also seemed to find themselves a home in drug delivery.
Work done at ETH Zurich by Bradley Nelson, professor of robotics and intelligent systems, and Christofer Hierold, professor of micro and nanosystems have created microscopic robots that have the ability to transport drugs throughout the users body.
The robots have the ability to improve multiple things including minimally invasive surgery, targeted drug delivery, remote sensing and single cell manipulation. They can be controlled digitally and sent to deliver medication at specific locations throughout the human body.
Nasal Spray/Inhalable vaccines
Nasal spray may be a great alternative to vaccines or swallow-pills instead of just using it for clearing up nasal passages.
OptiNose created a nasal spray device meant to relieve migraines. They later licensed the spray to Avanir Pharmaceuticals and the product is still under clinical trials.
Similar to an inhalable nasal spray, inhalable vaccines also show promise and interest for those who aren’t the biggest fans of needles.
Recently, an inhalable ebola vaccine was tested on non-human primates and was found to neutralize the virus effectively. This outcome has the potential to provide thousands of sick people with the necessary medication in a painless, easy way.
Not to mention, if it works, who knows how many medications will then be able to become inhalable, eliminating the need for needles or pills.
Liquids
Something so simple can be so beneficial, especially for children and others who can’t swallow pills and don’t want to get anywhere near a needle. We’ve seen liquid medications in things such as Nyquil and cough syrups, so why not other medications?
Neos Therapeutics has thrown its hat in the ring by creating both a liquid and dissolving tablet form of a medication that helps control ADHD. Both of these options make it a lot easier for children to take in their necessary medications and they last throughout the entire day and are late-stage innovative and extended release products.
According to the company’s website, “The two lead Neos Therapeutics product candidates provide a plasma concentration-time profile that is consistent with once daily dosing in an orally disintegrating tablet that disintegrates in the mouth without water.”
As technology advances and the way we receive our medical care evolves, getting the necessary medication we need may be a lot easier and much less intimidating
