SCINTIGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OROPHARYNGEAL AND NASAL DEPOSITIONS OF FUSAFUNGINE FROM A PRESSURIZED INHALER AND FROM A NOVEL PUMP SPRAY DEVICE

The distributions of fusafungine (Locabiotal, Servier) radiolabelled with Tc-99m, and delivered either orally or intranasally, have been assessed in healthy volunteers from a pressurized metered-dose aerosol inhaler (125 mu g per dose) and from a novel mechanical pump spray device (500 mu g per dose). More than 90% of the dose was initially deposited in the oropharynx for oral dosing (n = 8), and more than 90% in the nose for nasal dosing (n = 9), with no significant penetration of aerosol into the lungs. Although not statistically significant, the mean area of deposition, measured in terms of gamma camera picture elements (pixels), was greater with the pump spray for both oral and nasal dosing. The area of deposition with the nasal pump spray extended Into the turbinates in six of nine subjects, compared with only three of nine subjects for the pressurized aerosol. The data suggest that the distribution patterns of pump sprays and pressurized aerosols of fusafungine in the oropharynx and in the nasal passages are similar, and that the former can be substituted for the latter with little change in drug delivery.