Pharmaceutical Innovation: A Constantly Evolving Interdisciplinary Science

Far from being an isolated field, “pharmaceutical innovation requires multiple interactions and connections with other scientific disciplines: process development, analytical development, as well as biopharmacy, which studies the impact of a drug’s formulation on its behavior within the body, and of course pharmacology and toxicology,” explains Nathalie Masson. A major challenge in the development of innovative medicines, pharmaceutical formulation aims, among other things, “to deliver the active substance at the optimal concentration to ensure the best therapeutic efficacy with the lowest possible dose, while improving tolerability.” Constantly evolving, pharmaceutical science covers simple or complex dosage forms manufactured industrially by pharmaceutical laboratories. According to Nathalie Masson, “the concept of advanced pharmaceutics involves the design, development, characterization and evaluation of innovative dosage forms for therapeutic molecules (drug delivery systems, functional materials, new materials, etc.).”

Extended‑release Dosage Forms: A Major Area of Active Research

Particularly developed since the 1950s, oral and parenteral extended‑release forms have significantly improved patients’ quality of life, especially for those with chronic diseases. “This specific type of modified‑release form not only extends the duration of drug action—reducing the number of daily intakes—but also, in some cases, avoids blood concentration peaks and therefore adverse effects,” explains Nathalie Masson. Extended‑release forms are the subject of active research and can be developed technically “thanks to numerous formulation principles and different manufacturing processes.”

Implants and Patches: Advances for Multiple Uses

Miniaturization of implants opens new therapeutic perspectives, notes Nathalie Masson, as their placement becomes less and less invasive. “Drug diffusion via implants makes it possible to directly reach the therapeutic target, improving efficacy, treatment duration and patient comfort compared to conventional forms.” Biomaterial‑based implants are also being developed. “Their purpose is to treat, enhance or replace a tissue, organ or function of the human body—for example, ‘repairing bone tissue while reducing hospital stays.’” Electrical‑stimulation implants designed to relieve lower back pain by better stabilizing the spine represent another therapeutic option. New patches are also emerging at the experimental stage:

• localized‑action patches
• patches delivering nanoparticles or non‑nanoparticle active substances
• electrical or electromagnetic stimulation patches
• heating or cooling patches
• microneedle patches for food allergies
• diagnostic patches for continuous glucose monitoring

“Their applications are extremely broad, for treatment, diagnosis, or monitoring of treatment effects.”

Unither’s Strengths in Meeting the Challenges of Pharmaceutical Innovation

“Unither aims to provide patients with practical (portable, single‑dose, pleasant‑tasting, water‑free) and affordable products to improve treatment adherence,” says Nathalie Masson. Unither’s liquid stick‑packs improve texture and facilitate swallowing: “They are particularly suited for children and the elderly, as well as young adults who struggle to swallow tablets or capsules.” Unither is currently working on numerous development projects:

• novel combinations of known active ingredients
• new administration routes crossing the blood‑brain barrier
• micro‑emulsions…

“Convinced that improved adherence does not rely solely on drug formulation, we are also developing new drug‑dispensing systems that could eventually be connected to smartphone apps, helping patients follow their treatment more easily.”

Biotechnology and Nanomedicines: Multifaceted Potential

Today, pharmaceutical innovation increasingly calls upon nanotechnology—a groundbreaking method for delivering therapeutic molecules to specific organs, tissues or diseased cells. “It represents a major challenge for treating human diseases, particularly infectious, cancerous or genetic disorders,” says Nathalie Masson. This biotechnological revolution is transforming drug administration. “Nanoparticles will enable better targeting of tumors eligible for radiotherapy while reducing side effects on non‑cancerous cells. In the future, nanorobots capable of swimming through the bloodstream could deliver highly targeted treatments or destroy cancer cells.” Applications are broad across severe, infectious, and chronic diseases. For example, in diabetes, “the nanorobot will be programmed to release insulin when blood sugar rises. It will also detect tumor development and destroy diseased cells within seconds.” In the near future, their capabilities could include:

• transporting oxygen in place of failing red blood cells
• “consuming” cholesterol in arteries
• monitoring the body after organ transplantation (blood pressure, temperature, blood flow), etc.

Though their widespread clinical use is still a few years away, early results are promising, and these technologies are developing rapidly.

The Blood–Brain Barrier: A New Research Frontier

A better understanding of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and its mechanisms is another research direction. “The BBB is an almost impenetrable barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances but also prevents certain drugs from reaching their cerebral target.” It has therefore become “the ultimate barrier to overcome” for delivering therapeutic molecules effectively to the brain. “We already know that ultrasound can temporarily open the barrier by disrupting membrane lipid organization, allowing molecules (drugs, antibodies…) to enter the brain.” Progress is underway!

A Key Challenge for Research: Adherence and Side‑effect Management

According to the Cercle de Réflexion de l’Industrie Pharmaceutique (CRIP), 15 million French people suffer from chronic diseases, and only 40% correctly follow their treatment. Lack of adherence is often linked to side effects. Strategies to reduce them include:

• combining existing treatments never before used together, to simplify dosing
• innovating in formulation to reduce toxicity risks
• using non‑chemical agents such as intestinal microbiota bacteria or bacteriophages to treat infections without antibiotics

For each new challenge, new solutions arise. These are Unither’s priorities: helping patients live better with their disease by using the best technologies and scientific breakthroughs. The patient of tomorrow will be supported throughout treatment thanks to:

• digital technological solutions
• advanced medical expertise
• remote monitoring by healthcare teams

This is already true in diabetes treatment with the artificial pancreas. “A glucose sensor, calculation software, and an insulin pump within a small device allow an algorithm to compute the insulin dose to administer.” For Nathalie Masson, the greatest revolutions will come from telemedicine and advanced digital tools: “They will allow patients to become more autonomous in managing their disease, reducing the need for repeated hospital visits.”

Tomorrow’s Challenges and the Path Forward

Nathalie Masson explains that challenges include:

• aligning innovation with increasingly strict regulatory requirements
• offering innovative formulations with reasonable manufacturing costs
• leveraging big data to develop more personalized medicines

This requires partnerships with digital companies and biotech firms to exploit data from connected health devices, social networks, and genomic sequencing. Thanks to collaboration between entrepreneurial and innovative physicians and pharmacists, Unither is a creator of pharmaceutical innovation, forward‑looking, and committed to developing accessible, user‑friendly, and innovative products that improve patients’ lives. Unither is already preparing for tomorrow—advancing toward a revolution in patient care and public health.