In today's healthcare industry, sustained drug delivery has become key in pharmaceutical product development. Innovative sustained-release technologies allow for increased performance of new and existing pharmaceutical compounds. Patients benefit from the enhanced efficacy of pharmaceutical products and from a reduction of side effects. Clinical advantages include:
- Longer duration of action by sustained release of the drug
- Lower plasma levels with less toxic and less systemic exposure, leading to a reduction of side effects.
- Reduced injection frequency
- Improved patient compliance because of a more convenient user experience
- Enhanced therapeutic efficacy
There are more advantages to sustained release, exceeding the clinic:
- Improved stability by encapsulating the compound in a polymer matrix, thus protecting it from environmental influences.
- A sustained-release formulation can be a solution for insoluble compounds.
- More cost-effective due to lower dosing levels and drug usage
- Opportunity to develop formulations for insoluble compounds
- Easier storage and transport
- Life cycle management
An example of beneficial use of a sustained release technology: Hard-to-reach areas
Administering drugs to hard-to-reach areas, such as intraarticular space, the heart, or the eye, is extremely inconvenient to patients, especially in case of recurring injections. It can even bring patients to stop or refuse the treatment. Sustained-release drugs significantly lower the injection frequency. As a result, patient convenience and treatment compliance improves. Moreover, locally administered long-acting injectables, e.g. intratumoral administration, increase the efficacy and limit the side effects of potent drugs, further improving patient compliance.
