Picture used for representational purpose only VADODARA: You may not have to pop up azithromycin pills in the future. Instead, you will be able to simply inhale this most common antibiotic drug widely prescribed to treat respiratory tract infections of the nose, throat and lungs. Researchers of M S University’s Faculty of Pharmacy have received a patent for their invention of a liposomal dry powder inhaler (LDPI) of azithromycin. This invention will significantly reduce the side effects that the drug causes to people who consume it currently in pill form. “We had taken up the project as there is a need for a better formulation for the treatment of lung infections. Lung infections are the most prevalent and leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the world,” said Dr Hetal Thakkar, who along with her students — Sunil Thakor and Dr Praveen Srivastava — carried out the research project.