Introduction
Drug delivery is the mean by which the treatment is administered to the patient. Drug delivery principles are traditionally described as parenteral and oral.

The preferred delivery principle for patients is the oral route. However, the nature of the drug often makes it impossible so that a parenteral formulation principle has to be chosen. Parenteral delivery systems can be classified in different ways, but are typically divided into sterile (e.g. injectables) and non-sterile products (e.g. rectal and nasal formulations).

Ferring’s fundamental principle is to develop drug delivery systems offering the most patient-friendly dosage form possible with regards to ease of administration and convenience.

Ferring’s work in drug delivery involves not only the development of delivery options for new drugs, but also new delivery options for existing products to meet the goal of making drug delivery both effective and convenient for the patient. In addition, new and different drug delivery mechanisms can help to expand the field of application for Ferring’s products.

Ferring develops a broad range of drugs from small molecules and peptides to proteins and recombinant compounds. As a consequence, a broad range of delivery technologies exist too.

Oral delivery system
The preferred oral delivery systems are a plain tablet, capsule or granulate. Ferring’s expertise does not only cover these, but also modified/sustained and instant release forms. Ferring works within areas like melt/freeze drying technologies, liquid capsules and pH independent release technologies.

Parenteral delivery systems
Besides rectal, vaginal and nasal delivery technologies, Ferring also focuses on small volume parenterals, i.e. injections. Ferring has developed a broad range of products for S.C. (subcutaneous), I.M. (intramuscular) and I.V. (intravenous) injections. The formulations include delivery systems from simple injection solutions to a freeze drying powder to be reconstituted before use.

For patients undergoing long term treatment, Ferring has developed technologies to exert a controlled release, for example micro-encapsulation1 or a self-forming depot.

The small volume parenteral development will often include development of a suitable injection device.

Ferring has expanded further into not only needle free devices, but also specific trans-dermal delivery technologies to ease convenience and user friendliness for the patient.