Global Drug Delivery Challenges Explained

Two men, Nick A. (left) and Nigel (right), sit at a white table, engaging in a lively and friendly conversation. Both wear checkered shirts and lavalier microphones, suggesting a filmed discussion or interview. Nick holds tissue samples in one hand and gestures animatedly, while Nigel smiles in response. Each has a white mug labeled with their name and a purple star logo. The background is a bright white, creating a clean and professional studio setting.
Resources

Global Drug Delivery Challenges Explained

Topic: Bio Break
YouTube video thumbnail

In this episode of Bio Break, Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck dive into the surprising realities of global drug delivery. While medical devices often dominate development conversations, the way drugs are delivered across regions can dramatically change how treatments succeed — or fail.

Nigel reflects on a trip to Italy where food sparked thoughts about oral drug delivery. In regions like Italy, pills and tablets are the most common approach. Larger countries also tend to prefer simple, scalable methods such as pills or injections. By contrast, smaller regions may be more open to specialized treatments that require more time or unique handling.

Regional Differences in Drug Delivery

Drug delivery methods are influenced not just by culture, but also by economics, insurance systems, and infrastructure. For example, biosimilars are more readily accepted in some countries depending on reimbursement structures. Meanwhile, large-scale programs — such as vaccine rollouts — highlight how fragile supply chains can be.

Cold Chain and Pandemic Lessons

Certain drugs, including attenuated vaccines, require strict cold chain maintenance. In developing regions, this presents a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored this issue when millions of doses expired due to distribution and storage limitations. As Nick and Nigel note, a drug designed for one part of the world may face barriers to adoption in another, depending on the delivery method.

96-well lab plates with a red arrow pointing to a green recycling symbol, representing lab plastic recycling for sustainability in medtech.

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck explore the massive volume of single-use plastic in labs and discuss a new company working to close the loop through a circular economy approach.

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck smiling during a Bio Break Book Club episode. Nigel holds the book Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck share what they have been reading lately. From exploring the science of sleep to diving into change management, their picks show how books can spark insight both inside and outside the lab.

“Hands holding books under the text ‘End-of-Summer Reads,’ highlighting FDA regulatory books and PCR memoirs.

Nick Allan and Nigel Syrotuck share their end-of-summer reading list, featuring FDA regulatory books and PCR memoirs. From navigating regulatory hurdles to celebrating groundbreaking discoveries, their choices show how science reading can be both educational and entertaining.

Project manager using AI project management dashboard on laptop with holographic interface for medical device development.

Project managers are on the front lines of rising complexity in medical device development. They sit at the intersection of vendor timelines, regulatory constraints, and engineering realities.