Dr. David Lechuga

Dr. David Lechuga-Ballesteros is the Head of Innovation in the Global Inhalation Product Development at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and a leading industrial scientist in the areas of formulation and particle engineering via spray drying. Dr. Lechuga has contributed to the development of several inhaled medicines, including Exubera, an inhaled insulin for diabetes, and metered dose inhalers for the treatment of asthma and COPD, Bevespi, Breztri, and Airsupra, including their transition to low global warming propellants. Currently contributing to the development of an inhaled biologic product for the treatment of asthma. Dr. Lechuga has co-authored over 100 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts; he’s listed as an inventor on more than 15 patents that describe innovations in drug crystal forms, novel formulations, and specialized processing equipment; and recently co-edited a book on biotechnology and pharmaceutical drying technologies.

Dr. Lechuga has served on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Research, and Molecular Pharmaceutics, and was a guest editor for a special issue on advances in respiratory and nasal drug delivery. Dr. Lechuga earned a B.S. in Pharmaceutics from the National University of Mexico and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Michigan.