Hovione will be exhibiting at RDD conference from May 10-14. RDD 2026 is a must-attend international conference covering all aspects of lung and nasal drug delivery. The more than 500 participants will have access to in-depth presentations, workshops, and discussions on cutting-edge science, as well as excellent networking opportunities.

Schedule a meeting. Let’s discuss your project together.

https://go.hovione.com/l/47122/2014-08-06/9grc

Don’t miss the chance to speak with our experts and learn how our development and manufacturing services for inhalation and nasal - integrated on a single site - can support in bringing your product to market faster. 

PODIUM PRESENTATION

Translational In Vitro Screening Approach to Support the Development of Dry Powder Inhalation Products by Predicting Clinical Bioavailability

Monday, May 11, 2026 | 2:00 PM

Trailblazers Ballroom

Dina Morais, Ph.D. - Senior Scientist, Inhalation & Advanced Drug Delivery

This work introduces a translational, tiered in vitro and in silico framework designed to support the development of inhaled dry powder formulations by enabling informed ranking of candidates based on more clinically relevant performance attributes.

In contrast to traditional approaches focused primarily on aerodynamic performance, this strategy incorporates mechanistic assessment of key post-deposition processes, including dissolution in biorelevant environments, epithelial permeability, and interactions with alveolar macrophages. Built in line with Quality by Design (QbD) principles and leveraging New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), the platform provides physiologically meaningful data to guide formulation selection and understand performance across different APIs and formulation designs. By capturing the processes that drive absorption and clearance in the lung, the approach enables more informed decision-making in early development. The resulting datasets are structured to support integration into physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models and other in silico tools, strengthening the ability to anticipate systemic exposure and bioavailability of inhaled products, and ultimately reducing development risk.

WORKSHOP

Innovative Strategies In Nasal Powder Drug Delivery: Device Design, Advanced Formulations, And Analytical Approaches

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 2 – 5 pm

Pathfinders room

Cláudia Costa, Ph.D. - Analytical Scientist, Advanced Analytical Characterization

Dina Morais, Ph.D. - Senior Scientist, Inhalation & Advanced Drug Delivery

In this interactive workshop, we will explore how formulation strategy, particle engineering, device design, and translational in vitro tools work together to enable rapid and reliable nasal drug delivery. Through expert discussion and applied case studies, participants will tackle real‑world uncertainties such as limited data, dose constraints, novel excipients, device development and performance trade‑offs to design fit‑for‑purpose nasal powder products.

• Developing a successful nasal powder drug product requires a holistic, end‑to‑end approach, from formulation and particle engineering to device development.
• Functional screening and characterization are critical to guide excipient selection, particle design, and performance optimization early on
• Translational in vitro tools enable data‑driven decisions and risk‑based decisions.

POSTERS

Posters will be available for viewing between 10am-7pm | Kierland Ballroom

• Advancing Nasal Powder Delivery: A Structured Evolution of Device Performance
  
  Ângelo Araujo, PhD - Senior Scientist, Mechanical Engineering and Product Design
  
  Cláudia Costa, PhD - Analytical Scientist, Advanced Analytical Characterization

Brief abstract

This work presents the structured development of a single-use nasal powder device, correlating key design features with emitted dose and intranasal deposition performance. An iterative, data-driven approach was applied, progressing from early 3D-printed concepts to a final injection-molded design. Device parameters such as nozzle geometry, spray pattern, plume orientation, air displacement and ergonomics were systematically evaluated using gravimetric emitted dose measurements and an Alberta Idealized Nasal Inlet (AINI). Results demonstrate a progressive reduction in anterior losses and a consistent increase in turbinate and olfactory deposition, together with improved reproducibility. The final prototype achieves a balanced combination of aerodynamic performance, anatomical targeting and user-centered design, providing a robust platform for future in vitro–in vivo correlation and clinical development in nasal and nose-to-brain applications.

Why visit the poster? Learn how systematic nasal device design can reduce anterior losses, improve intranasal targeting, and de-risk your I&N development program.

• Evaluation of β-lactoglobulin (Dispersome™) as a Novel Excipient for Pulmonary and Nasal Delivery
  
  Cláudia Costa, PhD - Analytical Scientist, Advanced Analytical Characterization

Brief abstract

Dry powder formulations are a highly promising strategy for targeted drug delivery to the respiratory tract, allowing therapeutic agents to be directed to specific lung regions according to clinical need. However, the currently available excipient portfolio is limited and does not adequately support high-dose delivery, largely due to issues such as particle agglomeration, suboptimal aerosolization, and low bulk density. Dispersome®, a novel excipient platform based on β-lactoglobulin (BLG), was originally developed as a solubility-enhancing carrier for oral drug delivery. In this work, it was demonstrated that BLG can also overcome key limitations of conventional respiratory dry powder formulations when co-spray-dried with active pharmaceutical ingredients. Critical parameters influencing respiratory deposition, namely dispersibility, aerodynamic performance, and density, were markedly improved in BLG-based composite particles. Pulmonary formulations incorporating BLG exhibited excellent dispersibility, with fine particle fractions (FPF) reaching up to 90% and tapped densities exceeding 0.4 g/cm³. Compatibility was confirmed with active pharmaceutical ingredients such as fluticasone furoate (FF), yielding stable solid dispersions with drug loadings up to 75% w/w. Pulmonary delivery was further demonstrated with a therapeutic dose equivalent to the commercial benchmark (1.6% w/w), achieving FPF ≥ 80%, which is four-fold higher than the benchmark FF formulation. In addition, BLG enabled effective nasal delivery, with targeted deposition in the turbinates (~60%) and minimal off-target exposure. Collectively, these results support BLG as a versatile excipient for both inhalation and nasal drug delivery, particularly for high-dose applications.

Why visit the poster? Learn why BLG emerged as a novel excipient with desirable aerosolization for both lung and nasal delivery, with formulation flexibility enabling deposition to be tailored to the target site.

• Critical Quality Attribute-Driven Calu-3 Air-Liquid Interface Model for Comparative Permeability Screening of Dry Powder and Liquid Formulation
  
  Beatriz Gamelas - R&D Analytical Development, Ph.D. Candidate
  
  Dina Morais, Ph.D. - Senior Scientist, Inhalation & Advanced Drug Delivery

Brief abstract

This work presents a Critical Quality Attribute (CQA)-driven in vitro air–liquid interface (ALI) model developed to ensure robust and reproducible permeability assessment of inhaled formulations. Key CQAs, were defined to guarantee consistent epithelial barrier integrity before formulation testing. Using this optimized model, the permeability of tobramycin was evaluated following both dry powder deposition and conventional liquid dosing. The results demonstrate that physiologically relevant powder exposure under ALI conditions enhances the ability to discriminate between formulations compared to traditional

liquid-dosing methods. These findings support the use of CQA-controlled ALI models as reliable early-stage screening tools for inhaled drug development.

Why visit the poster? Learn how a CQA-controlled ALI model combined with dry powder exposure can improve the predictive power of permeability screening and better inform inhaled formulation development decisions.

Book a meeting with our experts

Find out more about Inhalation and Nasal at Hovione