News and views from an annual highlight of the inhaled drug delivery conference calendar.
If you are part of the inhaled drug delivery community, the shortening days and festive lights are often a sign that Drug Delivery to the Lungs (DDL) is approaching. The perfect blend of expert presentations, networking opportunities, and exhibition, DDL can be relied upon to end the year on a high. Here are our highlights from DDL 2025.
Thought-provoking talks
With a packed programme of high-quality talks, sessions from Dr Gerhard Scheuch (GS-Bio-Inhalation) and Prof David Morton (Deakin University) were especially thought-provoking.
Dr Scheuch challenged some long-held assumptions around particle size and pulmonary drug delivery prompting renewed discussion around the factors that influence where aerosols ultimately deposit. Highlighting the importance of breathing profiles, he presented evidence of relatively coarse particles (4-10 µm) depositing in the bronchial airways and the exhalation of super-fine particles (0.2 – 0.4 µm) originating from the deep lung. Taking us back to 2020, he linked elevated levels of these super-fines to ‘super-spreading’, a defining feature of the Covid pandemic, and a potential consideration for future respiratory-driven outbreaks too.
Prof Morton addressed innovation, drawing on decades of experience to highlight the sustained effort behind many major breakthroughs. Reflecting on both barriers to innovation and motivations for it, he identified clear needs for improved technologies for
- delivering biologics
- nasal drug delivery to the posterior nasal cavity
- lower cost, more environmental benign therapeutics
He also pointed to advances in modelling and AI as important accelerators of progress across these areas.
Professor David Morton presenting innovative insights during DDL 2025
Dissolution Testing for Inhaled Drug Products
Dissolution testing for inhaled products was a common theme across the event. From the Day 1 EPAG workshop – Perspectives on Recent Changes in Regulatory, Academia & Science that Impact OINDP Products – to conversations with individual product developers keen to understand how to meet regulatory requirements, interest was consistently high.
Many FDA Product Specific Guidances now include dissolution testing as part of an enhanced suite of in vitro tests that may support regulatory approval without a clinical endpoint trial. However, widely accepted and standardised commercial methods are still lacking, leading some to develop in-house methods.
Against this background the first public preview of our Inhaled Dissolution Apparatus (IDA) attracted strong interest, alongside our associated poster ‘Assessing the Performance of a New Apparatus for Orally Inhaled Product Dissolution Testing in the Differentiation of Alternative Commercial Products for the Delivery of Fluticasone Propionate’. Both generated a lot of discussion with many attendees dropping by the stand keen to examine the IDA which is a practical, readily available tool for robust and reproducible dissolution assessment.
The New Inhaled Dissolution Apparatus IDA System on Display during DDL 2025
Smart Inhalation and Nebuliser Technology
Amongst the growing number of smart, connected devices on display, Pulmotree’s Kolibri Mesh-Nebuliser stood out for its thoughtful design. We were pleased to support the Pulmotree team showcasing its performance with the BRS 200i (one of Copley’s most popular breathing simulators).
Minimising the impact of variability in applied breathing profiles is a core goal for Pulmotree. The Kolibri nebuliser uses a haptic feedback mechanism to guide patients towards an optimal breathing manoeuvre, while nebulisation is only activated under well-defined conditions to minimise drug loss. It’s a strong example of patient-centric device design, especially suitable for expensive drugs such as biologics.
Pulmotree’s Kolibri Mesh-Nebuliser featuring Copley’s Breathing Simulator BRS 200i
Exhibiting at DDL 2025: Engagement and Feedback
With previews of new products on display, including the IDA and Sample Recovery System 100i (SRS 100i), the Copley stand drew visitors across all three days. This created valuable opportunities to reconnect with existing contacts and meet new ones.
It was the first DDL on the Copley stand for two of our team – Paul Martin, Head of Business Development and Rebecca Barks, Technical Marketing Associate – and it proved to be a busy introduction!
The SRS 100i represents a major milestone with respect to automation. Describing it as ‘the dream’, many were drawn to its ability to manage NGI drug recovery from solvent dosing through to sample preparation for assay. Reduced analytical variability, improved reproducibility and an accessible price point were key attractions. However, many of you are also clearly anxious to free up time for higher value, more interesting work! Join our mailing list to be the first to hear when the IDA and SRS 100i become available in 2026.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to share feedback and perspectives. It’s so rewarding when new products strike a chord and inspiring to hear about our customers research. We’ve come away with plenty of new ideas to work on…
Catching up with colleagues, collaborators, and customers at DDL 2025
Drawing in attendees from across the globe, DDL is perfect for networking and in-person discussions. The pre-conference IPAC-RS and EPAG meetings were particularly valuable and a welcome change to the usual online formats.
We also took the opportunity to reconnect with Tony McDonough, Anny Shen and Tong Tong Shen, our representatives in China, and Rajiv Popat from Apex Inhalation, our distributor in India. Their introductions to customers brought fresh insights from key global markets.
Intranasal drug delivery, inhaled biologics and the transition to low-GWP propellants are well established topics at DDL, but there were interesting and encouraging updates across all three this year.
Targeted nasal delivery was a hot topic in the poster sessions with many researchers using anatomical or idealised nasal inlets to better understand deposition within the nose. A presentation by Mathilde Felding, University of Denmark – Development and Characterization of In Situ Hydrogels for Nasal Delivery of Antibiotics Using the Alberta Idealized Nasal Inlet (AINI) – was a good example of progress in this area and an interesting insight into the potential of nasal drug delivery.
Presentation featuring the Alberta Idealised Nasal Inlet AINI during DDL 2025
Turning to biologics it seems that that several long-standing challenges around proteins, peptides, phages, and other large molecules are beginning to be addressed. Continued development of analytical tools will be crucial, given the complexity of formulations and delivery routes. In vitro cell models were a common theme and have an important role to play in de-risking development programmes by strengthening the clinical realism and predictive power of preclinical studies.
The transition to low-GWP propellants continues to be shaped by regional regulatory landscapes. Across Europe, momentum is building quickly following the first approval of HFO-1234ze-based products; some companies are already in full transition. Elsewhere, differing regulatory and government timelines mean that many organisations remain in evaluation or planning phases, though the experience gained by early adopters will undoubtedly be valuable.
Final Thoughts on DDL 2025
DDL continues to be a focal point for the inhaled drug delivery community. This year, Storm Bram meant challenging journeys for some, but there is widespread commitment across the OINDP community to this prestigious event, from new researchers to industry titans. Fuelled into the evening by a drinks receptions complete with Edinburgh Gin and Scotch Whisky tastings, it’s a place where open conversation flows and collaboration is nurtured.
We left Edinburgh with new perspectives, valuable feedback, and a clearer view of the challenges and opportunities shaping the coming years. Our thanks again to the organising committee and to everyone who took the time to share insights and experiences. We are already looking forward to continuing these discussions.
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Season’s Greetings from Copley
