Patented Transdermal Drug Delivery System

A broad method patent has issued on a way to combine virtually any ethical drug with an enhancer system that increases permeation of the skin.

The enhancer system allows permeation of the skin in a way that allows the drug to reach the bloodstream. In addition, the system can achieve adequate and even superior permeation levels of drugs while producing little or no skin irritation. Previously, both low permeation levels and skin irritation have been factors limiting the range of drugs that could be delivered through the skin. The new enhancer system was developed by Dermatrends (Minneapolis, MN, USA). The patent demonstrates that a large number of drugs can potentially be delivered through the skin, providing a new alternative to oral or injection delivery that may have adverse effects or make patient compliance difficult.

To date, only nine drugs have been available for transdermal delivery. Because of the low irritation levels and permeation effectiveness of the enhancer system, Dermatrends states that drugs will be able to be delivered in cream, gel, or patch form. The company has also tested the system on large molecule drugs with weights of up to 1400 atomic mass units (amu) and has received a second patent on its ability to deliver large molecule peptide drugs through the skin. Two that have been successfully tested are oxytocin and leuprolide.

"This is a breakthrough patent award for Dermatrends that opens up the field to delivering via the skin more than 100 drugs spanning multiple categories, including both existing drugs and drugs now in development,” said Ted K. Schwarxrock, CEO of Dermatrends.




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