3M Drug Delivery Systems grows its product portfolio in Asia’s pharmaceutical industry

3M Drug Delivery Systems recently advanced its participation in the Asian market with a sponsorship of the Asia Pharma R&D Leaders 2010 event, held March 4 and 5 in Shanghai, China. The event, organized by Global Leaders Institute, the leading life science event producer in China, brings together leading pharmaceutical industry professionals, policymakers, and academics to discuss Asia's role in the manufacturing, research and development of today's drug and biotech innovations, as well as opportunities for future growth.

3M Drug Delivery Systems is playing an active role in the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Asia, with its recent construction of a new laboratory facility at the 3M Singapore site in Yishun. The laboratory is 3M Drug Delivery Systems' first contract research and development facility in the Asia Pacific region dedicated to pharmaceutical product development. The country's infrastructure makes it an ideal hub for 3M's Asia Pacific customers and Singapore's scientific talent pool adds to the site's appeal. The Singapore lab will develop products in both the inhalation and transdermal drug delivery categories, bringing 3M's innovative inhalers and patches to pharmaceutical customers and patients in the Asia Pacific region.

Research conducted at the Singapore facility will contribute to 3M Drug Delivery Systems' growing capabilities and product portfolio. Since its invention of the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) 50 years ago, the company has remained a pioneer in the technology and now offers a full suite of MDI development and manufacturing capabilities and components, including the 3M(TM) Integrated Dose by Dose Counter. Additional technologies are available to improve patient experiences and help ensure the technical success of clients' products.

Other recent offerings in inhalation include the 3M(TM) Taper Dry Powder Inhaler, which stores API on a microstructured carrier tape, virtually eliminating the need for lactose or complex powder formulations as well as 3M Conix(TM) Dry Powder Inhaler, which uses reverse-flow cyclone technology to enable a patient's inhalation to efficiently aerosolize the drug. The company has also recently introduced two new inhaler components, the 3M(TM) Face Seal Valve, which eliminates the need to prime an inhaler, and 3M(TM) Plasma Coating Technology, which provides protection from degradation, deposition and corrosion.

In addition to its inhalation and transdermal technologies, the company also offers a portfolio of TLR-based vaccine adjuvants, as well as services in Transdermal components, packaging films and manufacturing. In addition to its Singapore laboratory, the company has research facilities in the US and the UK, as well as manufacturing sites in the US, UK, and South America.