Nanopharmaceuticals and Nanomedicines Currently on the Market: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

There has been a revolution in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Since 1980, there has been a remarkable increase in approved nano-based pharmaceutical products. These novel nano-based systems can either be therapeutic agents themselves, or else act as vehicles to carry different active pharmaceutical agents into specific parts of the body. Currently marketed nanostructures include nanocrystals, liposomes and lipid nanoparticles, PEGylated polymeric nanodrugs, other polymers, protein-based nanoparticles and metal-based nanoparticles. A range of issues must be addressed in the development of these nanostructures. Ethics, market size, possibility of market failure, costs and commercial development, are some topics which are on the table to be discussed. After passing all the ethical and biological assessments, and satisfying the investors as to future profitability, only a handful of these nanoformulations, successfully obtained marketing approval. We survey the range of nanomedicines that have received regulatory approval and are marketed. We discuss ethics, costs, commercial development and possible market failure. We estimate the global nanomedicine market size and future growth. Our goal is to summarize the different approved nanoformulations on the market, and briefly cover the challenges and future outlook.

The solid progress of nanomedicine

“…There are currently over 50 nanomedicines and nanotechnology-based medical products approved by regulatory bodies worldwide for a variety of indications [23][24][25]. Some additional examples of nanomedicines used in cancer therapy include Onivyde ® (liposomal irinotecan) or Hensify ® (hafnium oxide nanoparticles).…”

“…The latter constitutes the first-in-class RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic, paving the way for many novel nanotechnology-based gene silencing therapeutics [26]. Additionally, an estimated 100 nanoparticle-based products are in clinical trials [24,27], of which 18 started in the past 3 years, legitimating the idea that "the interest and pursuit of successful nanoparticle technologies continues," highlighted by Anselmo and Mitragotri in their most recent update on nanoparticles used in clinical practice [28]. Indeed, many companies have been actively developing nanomedicines over the past years, and investing billions of dollars, either in developing their own pipeline or through acquisitions.…”

The Role of Branch Cell Symmetry and Other Critical Nanoscale Design Parameters in the Determination of Dendrimer Encapsulation Properties

“…Similarly, funding support from U.S. government sources continues to remain high with >$130 million spent on nanomedicine alone by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2018. Much of this optimism is based on a widely recognized list of advantages documented for nanoparticle-based therapies/drug-delivery systems compared to traditional drug-delivery protocols [126,[198][199][200][201].…”

Self‐Assembling Proteins for Design of Anticancer Nanodrugs

“…[14] It has been approved for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and late-stage pancreatic cancer since 2005, 2012, and 2013, respectively. [15] Abraxane formed by non-covalent interactions between albumin and paclitaxel (PTX) has an average size of 130 nm. [16] As compared to traditional formulations of PTX in which emulsifiers such as polyoxyethylated castor oil are indispensable, Abraxane maintains the therapeutic activity of PTX while avoids the side effects and toxicity of the emulsifiers.…”