Anticancer long-acting injectables – an industry perspective

Cancer therapy is often a prolonged and complex process, requiring repeated administrations of chemotherapeutics or immunotherapies over many months or even years. Such treatment regimens commonly involve high dosing frequencies and fluctuating drug levels, which can result in poor patient adherence, increased strain on healthcare systems, and inconsistent therapeutic outcomes. Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations offer compelling advantages that address these limitations. By sustaining therapeutic drug concentrations for days, weeks, or even months, LAIs help maintain stable drug exposure, reduce dosing frequency, and alleviate the treatment burden on patients, ultimately improving both efficacy and quality of life. In this review, the authors summarize the current landscape of LAI delivery systems and their applications in cancer therapy. The authors begin by outlining the major drug-delivery technologies employed in long-acting formulations, followed by an analysis of the diverse delivery platforms under active investigation. Representative therapeutic agents that have achieved or are progressing through clinical translation are highlighted, along with emerging laboratory research exploring next-generation long-acting systems. Finally, the authors discuss industrial and regulatory considerations that influence the development and commercialization of LAI products. The authors hope this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and developers working toward the successful translation of innovative long-acting anticancer therapies.