This review explores the impact of the presentation of ciprofloxacin in phospholipid-based particles (i.e., liposomes and spray-dried dry powder formulations) on drug delivery, safety, and tolerability in bronchiectasis patients.

Despite the differences in formulation design, the two formulations deliver comparable ciprofloxacin doses to the lungs, and have similar aerodynamic particle size distributions and kinetics of drug clearance from the lungs.

Both formulations are generally well tolerated with most adverse events mild to moderate in intensity. A significant difference does exist, however, in the reported incidence of treatment emergent adverse events in favor of the dry powder formulation.

Significant differences also exist in design features that may impact adherence to treatment, with once daily delivery favoring the liposomal formulation, and factors related to daily treatment burden, device portability, and tolerability favoring the dry powder.