Drug delivery to the Lungs 21.

Drug Delivery to the Lungs 21 was focused exclusively on delivery technologies of medicines for the treatment of diseases that are 'local' to the respiratory tract or for wider 'systemic' distribution. Therefore, the range of diseases that can be treated via delivering drugs to the lungs is large and diverse. This diversity means that the delivery technologies (device and/or formulation) are also very varied. Moreover, the patient is critically involved when using drug-delivery technologies to the lungs as their inhalation and 'user' characteristics are pivotal in ensuring that the correct dose is given and reaches the appropriate part of the respiratory tract. Thus, Drug Delivery to the Lungs 21 was a wide-ranging conference, ideal for an overview of current and future inhaled-delivery technologies. The conference was split into various themed sections and supported by approximately 65 posters. Furthermore, the conference was preceded by a workshop organized by the European Pharmaceutical Aerosol Group on abbreviated impactor measurement, which is a tool currently of much interest in assessing aerosol products (see separate summary). The conference initiated a number of innovations this year, including a Facebook page on which delegates and organizers could follow and 'chat' about conference proceedings.