| Abstract: | The respiratory route of administration has long been the medically desired drug delivery portal for the administration of topical anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs are administered either to the lung, i.e., the lower respiratory system to treat asthma, or to the nasal cavity, i.e., the upper respiratory system to treat allergic rhinitis. This therapeutic focus dominates the drug delivery applications for the respiratory system. More recently, the respiratory system has provided a non-invasive method for the administration of biotherapeutics. And finally, formulation and device advancements have led to the consideration of the respiratory route for a number of other therapeutic applications where systemic delivery is desirable. All of these factors have resulted in the therapeutic patents that are discussed in this review. |
