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How peptides work in the body · Part 5: Oral and other routes

Through the nose

Lesson 2.5.2 · 6 min read · Advanced plan

What you'll learn

  • Nasal delivery skips gut digestion and first-pass metabolism, and needs no needle.
  • Calcitonin nasal spray delivers about 3% to 5% of an intramuscular dose, with a very wide range.
  • Desmopressin tablets deliver about 5% of the nasal form's exposure, and the nasal form is in turn far below an injection.
  • Baqsimi glucagon nasal powder doesn't need to be inhaled, and colds didn't change its absorption.
  • Size, low yield and variability make the nose a hard route for most peptides.

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