Re-formulating drugs and vaccines for intranasal delivery: maximum benefits for minimum risks?

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Drug discovery
• Therapeutic development

Background:

• Patent expiries and limited new products challenge the pharmaceutical sector.
• High risks and costs are associated with developing new molecular entities.
• Declining R&D productivity necessitates strategic shifts in drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the pharmaceutical industry's strategic pivot towards biologicals and vaccines.
• To identify key growth areas for pharmaceutical companies amidst existing challenges.
• To highlight the increasing importance of non-small molecule therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of industry trends and challenges.
• Analysis of R&D investment shifts towards biologicals.
• Examination of the growing interest in vaccine development for treatment and prevention.

Main Results:

• Pharmaceutical companies are expanding into biologicals (peptide, protein, antibody, nucleic acid therapies).
• Vaccines are gaining traction for both infectious disease immunization and novel therapeutic applications.
• This strategic diversification aims to mitigate risks and ensure long-term industry growth.

Conclusions:

• The pharmaceutical industry is actively diversifying its portfolio beyond traditional small molecules.
• Biological therapies and vaccines represent critical avenues for future innovation and market expansion.
• Adapting to new modalities is essential for sustained growth and addressing unmet medical needs.