With bated breath

The large size and fragility of therapeutic proteins mandate that most must be given via injection. While acceptable for acute indications, this route of administration is certainly not convenient for chronic diseases. Innovations have prolonged the activity of therapeutic proteins and reduced the frequency of injections, but as yet there is no delivery alternative.

Pulmonary delivery would fit the bill. With a surface area of more than 1,000 square feet, the alveolar epithelium of the lung provides an attractive target for systemic delivery, providing a large area for drug deposition and absorption. However, the difficulty of delivering liquid or powder through the upper airways, and the inefficiencies of compound transport, still can be a formidable challenge. In addition, the quick rate of absorption though the lung may preclude the use of the inhaled platform for drugs that need to be released slowly...