Drug Delivery and Translational Research Update

2017 DDTR Parameters

DDTR, an official journal of CRS, continues to improve the quality of published papers that are particularly focused on translational aspects of drug delivery science and technology. The journal also encourages submissions that are innovative and address critical drug delivery related issues or if the study is mechanistic. We also encourage reporting of negative data from a well-designed study with a rationale but that did not produce the expected outcome. Authors for such articles are expected to provide possible reasons for failure and what could be an alternative rationale. Reviews should be on current topics of interest in drug delivery and must include critical analysis of the information and not just a compilation of literature (see the author’s instructions). DDTR’s acceptance rate as of October 31, 2017, based on the articles submitted and accepted during 2017, is approximately 27%, and an average time to final decision for accepted manuscripts is approximately 3 months. The decision time on manuscripts that are rejected, including the articles rejected without review, is approximately 3 weeks.

DDTR Special Issue: Drug Delivery in Female Reproductive Health This special theme issue has its origin in a previous theme issue on advances in vaginal drug delivery published in DDTR in June 2011. That issue was based on a scientific session held at the CRS Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, in July 2010. The goal for the current issue is to provide a more expansive look at drug delivery as it relates to female reproductive health. As such, it provides reviews on long-acting systemic HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. These long-acting systems fall into one of two general categories: injectable and implantable. Despite challenges observed with peri-coital administration of vaginal gels, work continues on development of on-demand products for prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The use of electrospun fibers is covered: prevention of acquisition of STIs including HIV, contraception, other reproductive tract infections, and use in the field of multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs). There are several vaginal dosage forms being investigated for treatment and reduction of recurrence of cervical cancer including inserts (tablets), rings, bioadhesive dosage forms, and cervical caps. Two other female reproductive conditions affecting many women worldwide are endometriosis and uterine fibroids. The use of drug delivery to address these two conditions is reviewed. Finally, a research article describes research on an MPT product that can potentially release three antiviral agents and a contraceptive. Access this special issue (vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 773–866) at https://link.springer.com/journal/13346/7/6/page/1.

About the Guest Editor

David R. Friend is the chief scientific officer at Evofem Biosciences in San Diego, California. The company is developing contraceptive and STI prevention products. Prior to joining Evofem, he was director of product development and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at CONRAD, a division of the OB-GYN department of Eastern Virginia Medical School. Prior to his time at CONRAD, he worked for several small to midsize pharmaceutical companies. He started his career at SRI International working with Jorge Heller. He serves on a number of scientific advisory boards as well as editorial boards, including DDTR.

Special Issues

DDTR has thus far published 18 special issues covering different aspects of drug delivery in different disease conditions. Four more issues are under development. Consider developing a special issue for DDTR as a guest editor, which could be on a current topic of interest or based on symposia or conferences that you may be involved with. Please e-mail a proposal to labhasv@ccf.org for consideration.

DDTR Outstanding Paper

Award Join the leading scientists who are publishing their work in DDTR and also compete for the 2018 DDTR outstanding research/clinical paper award. The paper will be selected from the research articles/clinical research/clinical trials published in DDTR during 2018. The award will be presented at the 46th CRS annual meeting. Visit the CRS website (www.controlledreleasesociety.org/about/Awards/ Pages/DDTROustandingPaper.aspx) for the award criteria.