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Updated: Feb 12, 2026
05:10
Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
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Repurposing excipients as active inhalation agents: The mannitol story.
Sandra D Anderson1, Evangelia Daviskas1, John D Brannan1
1Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|April 8, 2018
Summary
Inhaled mannitol effectively diagnoses asthma by measuring bronchial responsiveness and treats cystic fibrosis by enhancing mucociliary clearance. This discovery led to globally available clinical products.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Exercise-induced asthma is linked to increased periciliary fluid osmolarity.
- Hypertonic saline was identified as an exercise surrogate but required ultrasonic nebulization.
- Development of a stable dry powder mannitol preparation was necessary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To find a non-exercise stimulus for asthma diagnosis.
- To explore mannitol as a treatment for cystic fibrosis by improving mucociliary clearance.
Main Methods:
- Investigated hypertonic saline as an exercise surrogate.
- Developed and tested a spray-dried mannitol powder for inhalation.
- Assessed bronchial responsiveness to inhaled mannitol in asthma patients.
Main Results:
- Inhaled mannitol identified individuals with active asthma.
- Mannitol demonstrated potential for improving mucociliary clearance in cystic fibrosis.
Conclusions:
- Inhaled mannitol is a viable tool for asthma diagnosis.
- Mannitol has therapeutic potential in cystic fibrosis treatment, leading to registered products.
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