Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) is organizing a two-day Symposium on Nasal and Pulmonary Drug Delivery in Mumbai on September 17 and 18, 2009. The theme of the seminar is "Regulatory Challenges - A Perspective"

According to the organizers, the previous editions were on Nasal and Pulmonary Drug Delivery. The notable speakers are: Dr. Richard Dalby, professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Dr. Jag Shur, Research Fellow at the University of Bath. Harry Peters, technical sales manager pharma, FrieslandCampina Domo. Richard Turner, pharmaceutical business development director, Paul Sullivan, member, BAMA (British Aerosol Manufacturers Association). Henrik Krarup, vice president, InnovaSystems Inc., Matthias Birkhoff, vice president marketing of Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH. Dr. Tim Noakes an acknowledged expert on regulatory aspects of specialized medical propellants. Guillaume Brouet, associate director, Valois Pharmaceutical Division, Le Vaudreuil, France. Dr. Alan Hendricker, Magellan Laboratories Dr. Gerallt Williams, head, R&D Laboratory services and Regulatory Affairs, Valois Pharmaceutical Division, Le Vaudreuil, France. Dr. Julie Suman, co-editor for Respiratory Drug Delivery Symposium and an Adjunct Asst. Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Currently, in India a lot of importance is given to R&D in new drug delivery devices so as to develop newer products. The NDD has major advantages over conventional dosage forms like controlled and predictable release, lesser chances of dose dumping, reduction in frequency of administration, minimization of side effects. It is estimated that growing demand for innovative drug delivery systems is expected to create a market worth $34.5 billion in 2010.

Pulmonary delivery is effected in a variety of ways like aerosols, metered dose inhaler systems (MDIs), powders (dry powder inhalers, DPIs) and solutions (nebulizers). Aerosol products for pulmonary delivery comprise more than 30% of the global drug delivery market.

Today, nasal drug delivery is receiving greater attention from the pharmaceutical industry. About 2% of the overall drug delivery is administered via nasal route. Companies are looking at the benefits of nasal delivery as an alternative to oral or injectable methods of delivering systemic drugs for a variety of diseases. Prescription drugs for pain management, migraine headaches, and osteoporosis, have benefited from this alternate route of administration. Vaccines are also a growing area of interest for nasal drug delivery. For its future drugs, the pharmaceutical industry is increasingly looking towards biotechnology.