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Harnessing the therapeutic potential of anticancer drugs through amorphous solid dispersions

Urvi H Gala1, Dave A Miller2, Robert O Williams3

  • 1Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Division, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, 2409 University Avenue, Austin, TX 78712, USA; DisperSol Technologies, LLC, 111 W. Cooperative Way, Building 3, Suite 300, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Reviews on Cancer
|November 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) enhance the oral delivery of poorly soluble anticancer drugs. This formulation technology improves drug solubility, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety for better cancer treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Oncology
  • Drug Delivery

Background:

  • Cancer treatment faces significant challenges, particularly in effective drug delivery.
  • Many anticancer drugs exhibit poor water solubility, hindering oral administration and therapeutic efficacy.
  • Suboptimal pharmacokinetics and limited safety/efficacy profiles result from poor solubility of oral anticancer agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review challenges in oral anticancer drug delivery.
  • To explore the application of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) technology in overcoming these challenges.
  • To highlight ASDs' potential to improve anticancer drug solubility, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on anticancer drug delivery and formulation technologies.
  • Analysis of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) as a strategy for enhancing solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs.
  • Discussion of the impact of ASDs on pharmacokinetic profiles, efficacy, and safety of oral anticancer agents.

Main Results:

  • Amorphous solid dispersions significantly enhance the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs.
  • ASDs improve the pharmacokinetic performance of these drugs, leading to better absorption and bioavailability.
  • Formulation via ASDs demonstrates potential to increase the efficacy and safety of oral anticancer therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Amorphous solid dispersion technology offers a promising approach to address the limitations of oral anticancer drug delivery.
  • Rational application of ASDs can lead to the development of superior oncology products with improved therapeutic outcomes.
  • ASD formulation is key to unlocking the full potential of poorly soluble anticancer agents for oral administration.
Keywords:
Amorphous Solid DispersionsAnticancer DrugsEfficacyOral DeliveryPharmacokineticsPoor Water Solubility

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