Aptar Pharma India Pvt Ltd, a drug delivery device major is gearing up to increase its market presence in the country with its range of pulmonary and nasal drug dispensing products.

With an increasing number of Indian pharma companies introducing products that are delivered through the nasal or pulmonary route there is a clear indication on the huge interest generated for such dispensing devices. In this connection, we are also looking to penetrate into the country further with our range, Kanwal Tikoo, director, Aptar Pharma India Pvt Ltd told Pharmabiz.

Going ahead with an aggressive sales strategy, the market leader with a 70 percent share is looking to educate the Indian pharma majors about the regulations in the sector through an international symposium in mid-September.

Mumbai-based Aptar Pharma India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Aptar Group, US. The range of products for the Indian market are Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) for pulmonary route and Metered Dose Pumps for Nasal, buccal and dermal routes. The Indian operations are engaged in pre-sale and post sales activities including customer service and technical support. MDIs constitute a major portion of our business in India, stated Tikoo.

The drug delivery devices market will be $34.5 billion in 2010. Pulmonary delivery is through aerosols, metered dose inhaler systems (MDIs), powders (dry powder inhalers, DPIs) and solutions (nebulizers). Aerosol products for pulmonary delivery comprise more than 30 per cent of the global drug delivery market. Globally the drug delivery devices constitute 2 percent of the pharmaceutical market.

Among the Indian pharma companies which are using such drug delivery devices include Lupin, Glenmark, Cipla, Zydus Cadila, Dr Reddy's, Mcleods Pharma, Midas Care and Biodeal to name a few. Some of these companies are also third party fillers.

Most of the top Indian pharma companies are either already exporting their products for pulmonary and nasal drug delivery or have set their eyes on the global market. We also see a big trend in these companies targeting the US and the European markets in the near future, he added.

With a current team of eight including Business Development, Technical support and Customer Service, it also plans to augment its strength to 10 personnel by year end.

Regulatory approvals are required by the pharma companies, but the drug delivery devices are primary packaging component, so the device manufacturers are not obliged to seek regulatory approvals. However, a stringent quality regimen has to be followed during manufacture of such devices to enable pharma companies comply with regulatory requirements with respect to devices they use on their products, stated Tikoo.

Pulmonary drug delivery is viewed as a viable option in respiratory disorders like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The use of devices is also expended for treatment of non-respiratory conditions like diabetes, migraine and osteoporosis. Even dry powder inhalation (DPI), is much-sought-after in the non-invasive drug delivery process.

Companies are also beginning to explore the benefits of nasal drug delivery as an alternative to oral or injectable methods of delivering systemic drugs for a variety of diseases. Around two per cent of the overall drug delivery is administered via the nasal route. Vaccines are also a growing area of interest for nasal drug delivery.

In India too, drug delivery devices constitute around two per cent of the Rs 44,000 crore Indian pharma market. Other well-known global drug delivery device companies are 3M and Bespak.