Bringing Topical Drugs to Patients’ Skin: Managing the Drug Delivery Ecosystem

Understanding the drug development pathway, the patient journey and preferences, as well as allowing a partner to identify and support the topical drug delivery technology that also maximizes treatment adherence, are all parts of the complex journey to product. Partnering with an experienced supplier that can provide not only dermal drug delivery supply, but also contributes to the de-risking and acceleration of the development process is more important now than ever.

The dermal drug delivery market covers a wide range of product formulation types ranging from gels liquids, and lotions to powders or transdermal patches. However, semi-solid formulations possess the largest share of this growing market. The presentation looks at the various packaging and drug delivery technologies that can be used to deliver liquid and semi-solid skin treatments and how innovation can help to differentiate and improve consumer acceptance. Driven by a desire for more sustainable, convenient, portable and easy-to-use products, patients and manufacturers will help to shape the future of skin treatment success.

Learn more about how today’s drug delivery technologies can help to protect drug products while delivering a positive user experience. A variety of drug delivery systems can protect the product from risk factors including air, light, moisture evaporation and microbial ingress for a more stable product. A prime example is Aptar Pharma’s Airless⁺ semi-solid dispensing system. Capable of providing precise dosed dispensing, the Airless⁺ system protects the product via its specific technology, which eliminates any product contact with air, moisture or light. The complete system can be carried in a bag with no risk of product leakage or accidental dispensing, for safe, clean, on-the-go dispensing.

Aptar Pharma’s extensive range of semi-solid dispensing systems not only offer convenient product protection but can deliver specialized dispensing capabilities. For example, the Airless⁺ system can provide 360-degree dispensing so that the formulation can be precisely dispensed in virtually any position, including an inverted orientation. This enables the patient or caregivers to dispense skin treatments virtually anywhere without fear of inaccurate dosing. Some products also require precise dispensing to a very small skin area, with innovative pinpoint delivery technology available with some Aptar Pharma devices.

Skin treatment dispensing systems also require safety features to serve patients of all ages. Child resistant (CR) dispensing features can help to eliminate accidental product contact with children. Elderly patients with dexterity challenges also need easy to operate dispensing systems that protect the product but also enable easy access to the formulation. Learn more about Aptar Pharma’s range of liquid and semi-solid dispensing systems and their Child Resistant- Senior Friendly (CRSF) options in this presentation.

More skin treatment products are going digital. Some can incorporate digital technology or connectivity features that will make the patient and Healthcare Professional (HCP)’s roles easier in the use of the product and improve patient adherence to treatment regimens. Learn how digital technology can include useful features such as dose counters, dosing reminders or even smartphone app integrations.

The importance of regulatory compliance and the filing process should not be overlooked. Having a specialist drug delivery system partner with experience in this area, that can offer the required support in a range of international markets, can help to ensure the product advances to market as quickly as possible with less risk. Learn more about Aptar Pharma’s regulatory support services for skin treatments.

It’s not just the drug delivery system capabilities that matter when selecting a partner to support skin treatment development and manufacturing. Companies should also consider the technical and regulatory support available. Access to important specialized services including device selection, analytical testing, material selection and compatibility assessment can help to efficiently advance the development of topical skin treatments. Once you have the development completed, how will your partner support your transition to manufacturing commercial quantities of the finished product? Did they consider a potential irradiation or sterilility validation process for non-preserved products? Do they have a network of qualified CDMOs that have the capacity and experience to fill the selected drug delivery system at scale? In this presentation the speaker addresses these critical questions and more.

Consumers and patients also look for skin treatment drug delivery systems that contribute to improved sustainability. Pharmaceutical regulations can make enhanced circularity and recycling a challenge, so it is vital that a partner has incorporated sustainability into product design and how they do business. Whether that’s a multi-use drug dispensing system that reduces plastic waste or a highly recyclable technology that makes recycling easier, sustainability should be a consideration in partner selection. The presenter discusses the various approaches Aptar Pharma has taken to enhance the sustainability, recyclability and circularity of its products throughout its lifecycle.

Bringing Topical Drugs to Patients’ Skin: Managing the Drug Delivery Ecosystem was presented at the Innovations in Dermatological Sciences Conference, Rutgers Center for Dermal Research, on September 24, 2024, by Aptar Pharma’s Dr. Stefan Hellbardt (VP, Business Development and Scientific Affairs, Consumer Health Care Division). Enjoy the presentation and learn more about Aptar Pharma’s role in providing innovative skin treatment drug delivery options for today and tomorrow.