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The rise and rise of drug delivery

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 4, pages 381–385 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Drug delivery has typically focused on optimizing marketed compounds, improving their effectiveness or tolerability, and simplifying their administration. This role now includes the first biopharmaceuticals as well as more conventional drugs. As drug-delivery technologies come into play earlier in the development cycle, however, they can also enhance the screening and evaluation of new compounds and 'rescue' failed compounds, such as those with low solubility. In this article, we look back at how the burgeoning field of drug delivery came into being and describe approaches for future discovery and development.

Timeline | Highlights of drug delivery discovery

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Figure 1: Systems approach to drug delivery.
Figure 2: Osmotic oral delivery systems.
Figure 3: Oral delivery.
Figure 4: Intracutaneous delivery.
Figure 5: Nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge J. Wright and D. Waxman for their help in preparing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vice President Commercial Strategy at Gilead Sciences, Inc., 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, 94404, California

    Howard Rosen

  2. CEO and Vice President of R&D at OPi Pharmaceuticals, Les Jardins D'Ecole, 3 allée des Séquioas, Limonest, F-69760, Lyon, France

    Thierry Abribat

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  1. Howard Rosen
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Competing interests

H.B.R. is a former employee of ALZA Corp. and continues to be a shareholder of Johnson & Johnson. T.A. is a former employee of Theratechnologies and continues to be a shareholder.

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Rosen, H., Abribat, T. The rise and rise of drug delivery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 4, 381–385 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1721

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