Suppository Drug Delivery Is Making a Comeback

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

Suppository Drug Delivery Is Making a Comeback

Topic: Bio Break

In this episode of Bio Break, Nick and Nigel explore one of the oldest and most underappreciated drug delivery methods in modern medicine: the suppository. While often the subject of light humor, suppository drug delivery is gaining serious attention in the MedTech world for its effectiveness, ease of use, and broad applicability.

What Makes Suppositories Effective?

Suppositories are an example of non-oral drug delivery that bypasses the gastrointestinal system’s complex environment. Unlike oral tablets, which are subject to breakdown in the stomach and first-pass metabolism in the liver, suppositories can deliver medication directly into the bloodstream. This can lead to faster onset of action and greater bioavailability for certain drugs.

They’re particularly useful in scenarios where oral administration isn’t practical—such as when a patient is unconscious, vomiting, or otherwise unable to swallow medication. For these cases, suppository drug delivery provides a reliable and safe alternative.

Versatility in Drug Delivery

Suppositories are well-known for treating localized issues like hemorrhoids and constipation, but their role in systemic delivery is expanding. The slow-melting base at body temperature enables steady absorption, which can be ideal for sustained-release applications.

Nick and Nigel highlight the growing interest in advanced formulations like liposomes, nanoparticles, and mucoadhesives. These allow for more targeted delivery, longer duration of action, and better retention in mucosal tissues. Some formulations use thermosensitive materials that stay solid at room temperature but activate upon insertion—further enhancing delivery control.

A Resurgent Interest

According to Nick, the market for suppository-based drug delivery is growing, supported by promising research and real clinical needs. With an estimated 10% annual growth rate, this method is proving its value in both emerging therapies and everyday healthcare.

While suppositories may seem elementary, they continue to evolve—offering a reliable, low-cost solution in the right therapeutic context.

X-ray image showing two human knees side-by-side. The right knee appears intact with natural bone structure, while the left knee has a visible knee replacement implant, including metallic components. A bold caption in the upper center reads "Bone or not?" and a red curved arrow points from the text to the knee with the implant, emphasizing the contrast between natural bone and artificial joint.

In this episode of MedDevice by Design, Ariana and Mark dive into the biomechanics and materials science behind osseointegration for implants.

Jet Injector Drug Delivery - A gloved hand holds a syringe angled upward on a white background. A red dashed arrow curves upward from the syringe needle, pointing to empty space. Large black text on the left reads “Outdated?” suggesting a question about the relevance or currency of syringe-based technology.

Nick and Nigel dive into the world of jet injector drug delivery. This needle-free method, made popular in science fiction and real-world vaccines, is still used today.

Split image showing two close-up views of a human eye. On the left, the eye is seen through thick black-framed glasses, indicating impaired vision. On the right, the same eye is enhanced with a futuristic digital overlay of concentric circles and interface elements, suggesting advanced vision restoration technology. A red curved arrow points from left to right, implying improvement. Bold text at the top reads "Restoring Vision?"

Ariana and Mark explore how accommodative intraocular lens technology may one day restore natural vision for people who require cataract surgery or suffer from presbyopia. As Mark shares, traditional bifocals are not ideal, and new lens solutions may offer better outcomes.

A hand holds an iPhone on the left side of the image, with a red curved arrow pointing to a sleek, futuristic medical device shaped like a handheld drill on the right. Above the arrow, a black box with white bold text reads, “Make it like Apple?”.

Learn more about StarFish Medical.