Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have developed a Pulmonary Drug Delivery Technology Suite comprised of two innovative inventions for the precision measurement and dispensing of micro fine, dry powders.

Key Words: Local and systemic pulmonary drug delivery of small molecules and peptides
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS: Advancements in the development of ultra-fine drug molecules and peptides suitable for pulmonary delivery have created the requirement for novel handling, metering and drug dispensing techniques; while circumventing the problem of agglomeration (usually solved by mixing the active drug formula with excipients). The present technology suite is comprised of the following two inventions:

Volumetric Metering of Small Quantity of Ultra Fine Powder From Fluidized Bed (Ref: UWO-AA-010): A novel fluidization bed design that can precisely meter amounts as small as 0.02 mg of ultra fine powder (including small molecule and peptide formulations) without the need for excipients, and that can be filled into pure-drug blisters for dispensing.

Micro Fine, No Excipient, Dry Powder Inhaler (Ref: UWO-AA-012): A novel DPI design that can precisely dispense amounts as small as 0.02 mg of dry powder (including small molecule and peptide formulations) with an accuracy of +5%, without requiring the use of excipients.
 
BACKGROUND: Inhalation has long been established in the treatment of respiratory diseases as an effective means of delivering drugs for local effect in the lungs. Local delivery of therapeutic agents offers the advantage of increased concentration at the site of action without the problems of systemic side effects. Recently, interest has increased in exploiting the lung’s ability to transfer molecules (i.e. proteins, peptides or other low solubility drugs) to the bloodstream for a systemic effect with a fast action, low first-pass metabolism (unlike GI route) profile.

Among the three main types of devices that are used to administer drugs to the lungs Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI’s) present the major advantage that they are breath activated, requiring no patient co-ordination during activation. (The lack of a patient’s co-ordination of breathing with activating an inhaler is recognized as one of the main causes for lack of compliance and of inconsistent or sub-optimal dosing, a serious problem with drug treatments that feature a narrow therapeutic window.)

To deliver pharmaceuticals to (local) or through (systemic) the lungs, drugs must be transformed into an aerosol that can be inhaled by the patient. If an aerosol is to be delivered to the deep lung, the individual particles must be small and their velocity must be low as they pass through the upper airways and into the deep lung. With a DPI, the particle velocity is controlled by the patient’s breath unlike for metered dose inhalers that emit medication under pressure and at high speed.

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES/USES: The present technology suite was designed with the following features in mind: Successful control of powder (small molecules or peptides) agglomeration; accurate dispensing of ultra fine powdered pharmaceuticals; no requirement for excipients; no need for liquid propellant or compressed air. The technology will be of interest to companies with a strategic focus in the area of pulmonary drug delivery of dry powder small molecule and peptide formulations.

Ref. #s: UWO-AA-010 and UWO-AA-012

Patents on fluidized bed design issued in US, Europe, and China; PCT Application on inhaler design filed.

These technologies are available for licensing, and a collaborative research approach involving the inventor would also be considered.