The recent ISAM 2026 Congress in Taipei made one thing clear: the respiratory drug delivery field is moving decisively beyond traditional small molecules. Biologics, advanced formulations, digital health, modeling, and regulatory science all featured prominently on the agenda, painting a picture of an industry preparing for a new generation of complex therapeutics.
Lucas Silva, Manager, Technical Specialists, joined the global respiratory and nasal drug delivery community at the Congress and presented a paper on the compatibility and performance assessment of biological molecules delivered via nasal and pulmonary platforms.
Here, he shares his reflections on the themes that stood out, and what they mean for the future of inhalation science.
The Rise of Inhaled Biologics
One of the most prominent themes at this year’s Congress was the growing momentum behind inhaled biologics. During the workshop ‘Inhaled Biologics Development, Manufacturing and Regulatory Perspectives’, the panelists set out how biologics, nucleic acids, peptides and other advanced therapeutic modalities are progressing rapidly from early research into clinical development.
“What came through clearly was how quickly these modalities are moving,” Lucas explains. “But with that speed comes real complexity; formulation stability, manufacturing robustness, regulatory expectations, and device compatibility all need to be worked through together, not in isolation. That’s why integrating drug and device development early is so vital to derisking the program and therefore enabling the successful commercialization of the product.”
Lucas’s own presentation built directly on this theme, focusing on the compatibility and performance assessment of biological molecules delivered via nasal and pulmonary platforms. “Antibodies and nucleic acids have traditionally been administered parenterally.”We can definitively demonstrate that nasal and pulmonary routes are genuinely suitable for these complex molecules too. That opens up a very different set of possibilities for how these therapies could reach patients.”
Digital Health Reaches a New Level of Maturity
Alongside the discussion on biologics, ISAM 2026 showcased just how far digital health technologies have come. Presentations on smart inhalers, connected devices, and home monitoring systems illustrated the shift from first principles concept to commercial capability.
“Digital solutions aren’t just being talked about anymore, they’re being used,” Lucas says. “The real story is how digital health is increasingly being used to generate real world evidence, not only to improve patient adherence and outcomes, but to actively support product development, clinical studies and lifecycle management. After years of evolution, this marks a step change in how the industry thinks about these tools.”
Modeling and Regulatory Science Take Centre Stage
Regulatory science was another strong thread running through the Congress. Presentations from FDA representatives and industry experts pointed to the increasing adoption of modelling approaches and more clinically relevant methods for establishing product performance and bioequivalence.
“As OINDPsbecome more complex, the role of modelling, simulation, and model generated evidence in supporting development programs is only going to grow,” Lucas reflects. “It was encouraging to see this level of regulatory engagement with the topic, for me it signals that these approaches are becoming an established part of how development programs are being designed and assessed.”
An Outstanding Collaboration: Aptar Pharma, Nanopharm and the University of Parma
Among the many presentations, one in particular took center stage: Francesca Buttini’s presentation on the collaborative work between Aptar Pharma, Nanopharm, and the University of Parma, investigating the delivery of high payload antibiotic formulations to the lung using Aptar Pharma’s Orbital dry powder inhaler platform.
“This was a real highlight,” Lucas says. “The work demonstrated the continued potential of innovative device technologies to address challenging respiratory treatment needs. We know high payload antibiotic delivery to the lung is not straightforward and seeing that collaborative progress presented on such a strong platform was exciting to see.”
Looking Ahead: The Next Generation of Therapeutic Modalities
Beyond biologics, digital health, and regulatory science, ISAM 2026 also revealed strong interest in a wider set of next-generation therapeutic modalities including inhaled RNA-based medicines, vaccines, bacteriophage therapies, pulmonary fibrosis treatments and novel anti-infective approaches.
“Taken together, these presentations reinforced something the team at Nanopharm has believed for a long time. “The respiratory route is a genuinely viable platform for both local and systemic delivery of advanced therapeutics. And as these modalities mature, integrated drug/device development strategies are going to be essential to their success.”
Nanopharm’s Position in a Changing Landscape
For Lucas, the key takeaway from ISAM 2026 was how closely Nanopharm and Aptar Pharma’s continued investment in biologic device compatibility, performance assessment, and integrated development capabilities align with the direction the industry is heading.
“As more complex therapeutic modalities move into inhalation and nasal delivery, there are significant opportunities to leverage our bench to market offer from our development expertise, and our analytical capabilities through to utilizing Aptar Pharma’s device portfolio.” he says. “Our focus is on supporting the successful translation of biologics and nucleic-acid-based therapies, from development through to commercialization. ISAM 2026 confirmed that this is exactly where the industry is heading, and we are very well-positioned to help our partners get there.”
