White Paper: Nose To Brain (N2B) Drug Delivery – Benefits And Challenges

This white paper delves into the growing interest in drug delivery methods that target the brain and central nervous system (CNS) via absorption into the bloodstream, specifically focusing on crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain is a critical yet challenging target for drugs treating a wide array of conditions, from mental health disorders and pain management (such as migraines) to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, ALS, Parkinson's, and various brain cancers such as neuroblastoma.

Traditionally, most brain/CNS therapies are administered orally and reach the brain via systemic circulation, but recent years have seen an increase in drugs approved for intranasal delivery. These include treatments for neurologic disorders, such as triptans, dihydroergotamine, and zavegepant for migraines; naloxone and nalmefene for opioid overdose; diazepam and midazolam for epilepsy; and esketamine for depression. While both oral and intranasal routes rely on absorption into the bloodstream to cross the BBB, many drug candidates struggle to utilize this path, spurring greater interest in alternative methods for brain/CNS delivery.

Learn more about several key topics surrounding this, including the barriers to successful brain/CNS delivery through the BBB, the advantages and challenges of Nose to Brain (N2B) delivery, delivery targets and transport mechanisms for N2B, developing nasal dosage forms, the considerations between liquid versus dry powder formulations, and more.