Topical Dermal Drug Delivery System Innovation and Sustainability

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

Dermal drug delivery involves applying medications directly to the skin. There are a number semi-solid and liquid drug delivery systems that can provide a protective and non-invasive route to treating a variety of skin conditions. Dermal or topical drug delivery is particularly effective for localized treatment, ensuring the drug acts where it’s needed most, but can also be used to deliver systemic medications.

Topical or Dermal Drug Delivery Route

Topical drug delivery can provide local dosing control, and applied drug product can sometimes be removed to stop the administration when required.  Drug delivery via the skin can help to reduce side effects and avoid the gastrointestinal irritation and the liver’s first-pass effect, as compared to oral drug delivery.  This approach is especially useful for chronic skin conditions, offering patients a convenient, non-invasive and safe treatment option. Semi-solid formulations represent the majority of the dermal drug delivery market, making them the focus of this article.

Innovative Dermal Dispensing Technologies

Choosing the right dermal drug delivery technology partner early can help to derisk and accelerate the development process. Factors such as drug-device compatibility, product protection, ease-of-use, and attractiveness of packaging should be considered in the selection process. Experienced suppliers offering comprehensive support and a portfolio of dermal dispensing technologies can all contribute to the goal of achieving market access earlier. Airless and bag-on-valve (BOV) systems are becoming increasingly popular because they can protect semi-solid or liquid formulations from air and light. Aptar Pharma’s Airless+ and BOV systems, also ensure consistent controlled dosing with clean and hygienic application, all of which prove crucial for maximizing patient compliance and satisfaction. Aptar Pharma’s Airless⁺ and spray pump also come in sizes that offer compactness and portability making them ideal for travel-safe and on-the-go use.

Airless⁺

Aptar Pharma’s Airless⁺ systems provide dosing control for semi-solids along with enhanced product protection for improved product shelf life.  With 360-degree dispensing capabilities the formulation can be dispensed in virtually any position. For patients with chronic skin diseases, Airless+ systems offer the ability to accurately apply treatments to the applicable areas of skin only.

Bag-on-Valve (BOV)

Aptar Pharma’s BOV systems provide user-controlled dosing with continuous dispensing functionality.  BOV semi-solid or liquid product dispensers are eliminating direct contact with propellants or external air. Protected using a multi-laminate barrier pouch surrounded by a metal can, BOV systems offer unidirectional flow and closing valve mechanism that protects formulation in between applications over the life of the product.

Sustainability in Topical Treatments

Patients are seeking more sustainable dermal drug delivery options. Aptar Pharma has launched the mono-material Micro+ Futurity™ airless dispenser made from medical grade polyethylene (PE) earning high recyclability ratings. Users can deposit the empty dispenser directly into existing recycling streams for improved circularity. Aptar Pharma is pursuing a host of reusable, recyclable and circular strategies in its dermal drug delivery business.

Digital Health Technologies

Available digital e-health technologies can further enhance the patient experience and provide new tools for the Healthcare Professional (HCP) administering dermal and topical drugs.  Digital dispensing counters, automatic refill notifications and smartphone imaging documentation of skin condition progress are possible technology features that can be added to semi-solid dispensing systems.

Aptar Pharma Dermal Drug Delivery Support

Aptar Pharma brings decades of dermal drug delivery experience and the associated regulatory expertise to its customer products. With data and documentation for DMFs/dossiers and well-characterized material selection and testing, Aptar Pharma can provide the specialized testing, and manufacturing support services to bring new topical and dermal drug products to market in highly regulated markets.