“Manufacture of drug delivery devices is emerging as a new business opportunity for the pharmaceutical sector globally. The technology of drug delivery gearing up to become a profitable avenue for industries which are looking at sustaining their businesses in the wake of growing competition and changing scenarios in drug development,” stated Dr. David Johnston, chairman, Nektar Therepeutics.

Dr. Johnston ,who was a speaker on the second day of the 57th IPC here, highlighted in his presentation the ‘Global pharmaceutical development advantages’ that the only way for companies to sustain in the business in addition to looking at market expansion, was to focus on new drug delivery technologies.

“The dominance of delivery based products have proved to provide better efficacy, increased safety, improved compliance and reduce side effects,” he informed.

The trend is to develop user-friendly drug delivery devices which can provide ease of use, faster relief and decrease dosages at a time. Nektar has the proven molecules, proven technology and the leading-edge capabilities.

Delving further into the drugs delivery devices Dr. Johnston stated that such technologies are a boon to diabetics, patients admitted in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) affected with pulmonary infection and suffering from cancer, kidney ailments and cardiovascular disorders. The drug delivery devises like inhalers are economical for patients and hospitals. Inhalers bring down cost of treatment and are a much advanced form of treatment which can increase the survival rates.

The other advantage is that drug delivery devices are also nebuliser and ventilator adaptable. This will also ensure infection control for ICU cases that are constantly under nebuliser and ventilators.

“Pharmaceutical companies across the globe need to address this unmet medical need. Worldwide there are over a million patients affected with pulmonary infections and drug delivery devices will come in as a saviour for faster relief. Market research has also proved that over 70-90 per cent of physicians will adopt novel drug delivery devices for better patient management. Hence such technologies allow pharmaceutical companies remove bottle necks with cost savings,” said Dr. Johnston.