Abstract
The use of absorption enhancers is an effective strategy to achieve transmucosal delivery of poorly absorbed drugs. Many preclinical studies for developing delivery systems using absorption enhancers have been conducted since 1980s, and recently several such delivery systems have been evaluated in clinical trials. In 2019, Novo Nordisk A/S succeeded in developing the world’s first oral GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analog formulation in the United States. The new oral formulation contains salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) as an absorption enhancer. The absorption enhancement technologies are quite effective for developing formulation options other than injections to improve patient convenience. The biopharmaceutical industry is expected to expand further in the future, and now the development of oral formulation of biopharmaceuticals is receiving increased attention. In this review, we describe the current status, safety and future prospects of the oral delivery system of biopharmaceuticals, especially focusing on absorption enhancers.
