The Aerogen® Solo Is an Alternative to the Small Particle Aerosol Generator (SPAG-2) for Administration of Inhaled Ribavirin

Ronald H Dallas; Jason K Rains; Keith Wilder; William Humphrey; Shane J Cross; Saad Ghafoor; Jessica N Brazelton de Cardenas; Randall T Hayden; Diego R Hijano

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics12121163

The Aerogen^® Solo Is an Alternative to the Small Particle Aerosol Generator (SPAG-2) for Administration of Inhaled Ribavirin

Pharmaceutics. 2020 Nov 29;12(12):1163. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12121163.

Authors

Ronald H Dallas¹, Jason K Rains², Keith Wilder², William Humphrey³, Shane J Cross³, Saad Ghafoor², Jessica N Brazelton de Cardenas⁴, Randall T Hayden⁴, Diego R Hijano¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
² Department of Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
³ Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with adverse outcomes among immunocompromised patients. Inhaled ribavirin has been shown to improve mortality rates. The Small-Particle Aerosol Generator delivery system (SPAG-2) is the only FDA-cleared device to deliver inhaled ribavirin. However, it is difficult to set up and maintain. We developed a method for delivery of this medication using the vibrating mesh nebulizer (Aerogen^®). We did not observe any adverse events with this method.

Keywords: Aerogen® Solo; RSV; SPAG-2; children; infection; ribavirin.