New Drug Delivery Systems

Medicine that melts in your mouth? Medicine you wear? Medicine you breathe? New drug delivery technologies are making patients lives easier, improving efficacy and compliance.

New or novel drug delivery systems continue to be a fast-growing market. Leading names such

as Elan, R.P. Scherer (part of Cardinal Health), Alza (part of Johnson & Johnson), Biovail, and currently more than 300 other companies are working with the global pharmaceutical industry to bring existing brands, as well as new drug entities, into the world of controlled release, rapid dissolve, subcutaneous implants, and even inhalation systems. Currently approaching $54 billion in annual sales, it is estimated that this industry will reach $67 billion by 2006 - close to 20% of total global pharmaceutical sales.

The novel delivery applications are setting new standards in terms of packaging requirements due to their inherent sensitivities with respect to solid oral dose applications. Aclar® laminates moisture barrier, and the films purity and clarity play an important role in many drug delivery systems.

Honeywell has a focused pharmaceutical packaging effort in the area of New Drug Delivery Systems. The effort features Honeywell specialists who have expertise in packaging structure design and development, material and package testing, polymer chemistry, and film and lamination production, as well as new product development. Honeywell was one of the first packaging materials suppliers to focus on and support the wide range of new drug delivery systems and technologies.

Structures

	The traditional Aclar® laminate structures can and are being used for many of these novel drug delivery technologies.

Rapid Dissolve

	Rapid Dissolve or Orally Disintegrating Dosage Forms (ODDF) are preferred by a rapidly increasing number of patients.

Pulmonary Delivery System

	Pulmonary systems have been in development for many years and are seen as one of the few technologies that could overtake the popularity of oral delivery.