Available online 3 July 2022, 106253

Long acting injectables (LAI) have received increased research and commercial interest due to their potential for improving treatment effectiveness and adherence for antipsychotic, antiviral and addiction treatments. A range of materials have been used to formulate LAI products, including lipids and polymers. Classic lipid-based LAI, such as oil solutions of antipsychotic drugs, have been widely prescribed to patients. Clinical evidence has shown significantly improved key therapeutic markers such as reduction of relapses in the case of schizophrenia patients. The commercial LAI products can be given either via subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Themain types of lipid-based LAI formulations include oil solutions,lipid-based nanoparticlesand lipid based liquid crystal formulations,which arecurrently clinically available, andoil suspensions andoleogelsand which currently have no commercial products available. This review willdiscuss all relevant aspects related to the development of lipid-based long acting injectables with a special focus on intramuscular (IM) injectables. It aims to provide useful guidance on effective future LAI product design and development. Lipid-based nanoformulationsarenot discussed in this review as they arethoroughly reviewed in literature elsewhere.

lipid-based formulations

long-acting injectables

intramuscular

oil solutions

lipid based liquid crystals

oleogels

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.