New treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and viable formulation/device options for inhalation therapy.

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality, pathological features of which are pulmonary inflammation and irreversible airflow obstruction. Current therapies for COPD are aimed at improvement of clinical symptoms and reduction of inflammation in the respiratory systems. There is a pressing need for the development of new COPD medication, particularly as no existing treatment has been shown to reduce disease progression. In spite of a better understanding of the underlying disease process, there have been limited advances in the drug therapy of COPD, in contrast to the enormous advances in asthma management. Several new therapeutic targets and strategies have been proposed, and new drug candidates, including bronchodilators, protease inhibitors anti-inflammatory drugs and mediator antagonists, are now in clinical development for COPD treatment. New dry powder inhaler (DPI) systems for inhaled COPD therapy have also been developed to maximize drug concentrations in the airway systems, while minimizing systemic exposure and associated toxicity. This article aims to review recent developments in COPD drugs and the delivery systems for inhalation therapy, with particular emphasis on device options and formulations of DPI systems.

• Authors: Satomi Onoue, Shingen Misaka, Yohei Kawabata, Shizuo Yamada
• Journal: Expert opinion on drug delivery (Expert Opin Drug Deliv) Vol. 6 Issue 8 Pg. 793-811 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1744-7593 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19558334 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Aerosols
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Bronchodilator Agents
• Inflammation Mediators
• Powders
• Protease Inhibitors

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Aerosols
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Asthma (drug therapy)
• Bronchodilator Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Equipment Design
• Humans
• Inflammation Mediators (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Metered Dose Inhalers
• Powders
• Protease Inhibitors (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Respiratory Therapy