Aptar Pharma, presented a new scientific white paper, focused on blood brain barrier (BBB) which can successfully treat a host of central nervous system (CNS) diseases including Parkinsons disease.

On the occasion of the World Parkinsons Day observed annually on April 11, Aptar Pharma has highlighted its contribution in developing, manufacturing and marketing drug delivery solutions for CNS and Parkinsons treatments for many years. It includes nasal devices such as multi dose spray pumps, unit-dose systems, and electronically-assisted devices.

The CNS, which comprises the brain, spinal cord and a complex system of neurons, integrates and responds to sensory information, playing a key role by coordinating body function. Diseases such Parkinsons and Alzheimers are CNS disorders that affect a growing population.

Although many molecules can be used to treat brain and more generally, CNS diseases, today, only 1% of these molecules can cross the BBB, a firewall that allows the passage of oxygen and nutrients but blocks the entrance of what it considers harmful or toxic molecules into the brain. The challenge is to  identify potential routes for drug delivery.

At a roundtable, organized by Aptar Pharma titled 'Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier, Which Route to Take?' brought together a panel of six international key opinion leaders (KOLs) specialized in brain and CNS therapies: - Prof. Alexandre Carpentier, Scientific Consultant, Hpital Piti-Salpetrire & Carthera, France, Prof. Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes, Head, Translational PKPD Group, Uppsala University & Udenaes Consulting, Sweden, Prof. Kewal Jain, Scientific Consultant, Jain Pharmabiotech, Switzerland, - Dr. Jaap Rip, Senior Scientist, BBB Therapeutics, the Netherlands, Dr. Frdric Sedel, CEO, Medday Pharma, France and Dr. Jasper Stevens, Pharmacometrician, Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, the Netherlands.

The scientific experts shared their knowledge and debated several key themes, structured around understanding the background and unmet medical needs and investigating the various delivery routes via which drugs can cross the BBB.

Further, the experts explored the pros and cons of various approaches currently adopted to deliver drugs to the CNS. In addition, the KOLs discussed various possible approaches to deliver drugs to the CNS or brain, both conventional and innovative, including the use of receptor technologies, implantable medical devices and nose to brain (N2B) drug transport.

Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder. The World Health Organization estimates that six million people worldwide suffer from this disease. The average age at which symptoms begin to develop is 55-60 years.

All of the experts at our scientific roundtable confirmed the fact that delivering drugs safely and efficaciously to the brain and CNS remains a challenge. In fact, a major unmet medical need exists, and the market offers very attractive opportunities for drug delivery solutions that guarantee safety and efficacy, and are patient and caregiver-friendly, said Herv Pacaud, business development director, Aptar Pharma Prescription Division.

By organizing this scientific event, and with the input from the KOLs, Aptar Pharma has identified this unmet medical need and determined ways to optimize treatments for patients, he added.