Peptide Buccal/sublingual

Considerations of commercial viability have likely influenced the extent of exploratory research activity on the various non-invasive delivery options available for protein and peptide delivery. Currently, the buccal/ sublingual, nasal, transdermal, pulmonary, and oral routes of administration are receiving the most attention in the scientific and patent literature with some technologies showing promise as potentially feasible commercial products. The following sections examine each of these non-invasive delivery routes in greater detail. 

A variety of protein and peptide pharmaceuticals has been evaluated for buccal/sublingual administration using animal models or human subjects, and the published reports comprehensively reviewed. ... 

In order to overcome these issues, various noninvasive routes are tested for the delivery of peptides. The oral mucosa due to its high vascularity, avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism, and the absence of degradative enzymes normally present in the GI tract has been explored as a suitable route for peptide delivery. Several studies of peptide absorption through the oral mucosa have been conducted, and the results have been impressive in some cases, and not in the others. The development of mucoadhesive systems for buccal and sublingual delivery has increased the absorption and bioavailability of peptides, and various formulations have been developed using these systems. 

Compounds that are currently marketed or are being considered for buccal or sublingual routes include organic nitrates, barbiturates, papaverine, trypsin, prochlorperazine, benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, capto-pril, isoprenalin, oxytocin, and nifedipine. Oxytocin is currently the only peptide marketed in sublingual form. Sublingual steroids have been examined with moderate success. 

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