Drug delivery commands a sizeable proportion of the overall pharmaceutical market, approximately 15% or some US $109 billion in 2008. It is also expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall pharmaceutical market over the next 4 years. The reason? Extending patent life for existing drugs and offering new alternatives for delivery, in particular the peroral route. In all of this nanotechnology is a major enabler. Previously insoluble drugs can be re-packaged or formulated both increasing efficacy and decreasing the need for solvents. Greater stability can be assured by novel nanostructured materials and processes utilising nanotechnology. Such developments are not going unnoticed, with strategic collaborations, mergers and acquisitions becoming the norm.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of these new technologies and a market analysis of opportunities to 2012. It concludes with a description of emerging companies in this exciting and fast-developing field.