Improving Bioavailability

Oral administration would be the most convenient and preferred method of drug administration, however, it is currently not possible for biologics. Instead, IV infusion and subcutaneous injection are commonly adopted routes of biologics administration. Technologies are still challenging, but alternative routes such as transdermal, inhalation, nasal and buccal are increasingly being researched. With numerous biologics coming off patent, development of novel delivery technologies and formulation techniques can be effectively leveraged by biosimilar developers to carve a niche and gain an edge over others in the competitive biopharmaceutical industry.

Physiological barriers in the gastrointestinal tract severely limit the systemic absorption of biologics. In principle, biochemical and formulation approaches can lead to increased permeability or deceased enzymatic activity in the gastrointestinal environ. While oral administration is most preferable, other alternative routes may be considered Here the nasal absorption of several peptides are demonstrated with greater bioavailability via the incorporation of a surfactant-glycocholate In addition, transdermal absorption via iontophoresis also appeared to be a viable alternative route compared to IV and SC.