Pulmonary Delivery of Aerosol Biologics for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Asthma

Abstract

Biological drugs (synonymous known as biologics) are a diverse group of therapeutic agents which are large and complex molecules produced through sophisticated biotechnology [1,2]. The biologics currently used to treat severe asthma are monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and antibody fragment which are administered subcutaneously, or intravenously (reslizumab). Injection of drugs is painful and inconvenient, especially when the drugs are for the treatment of chronic diseases, such as asthma, and cystic fibrosis [3,4]. Moreover, 10% of the patients worldwide suffer from needle phobia leading to poor compliance [5]. Pulmonary delivery of biologics to the lungs improves pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profiles of proteins [6]. It is a non-invasive route, and allows for self-administration, which could improve patient compliance [6,7].