Vyteris’ transdermal peptide delivery completes Phase I
Smart Patch is the first active patch transdermal drug delivery system to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and could offer an alternative to intravenous peptide delivery.
The study was conducted in partnership with fertility specialists Ferring Pharmaceuticals and it is this field that the therapeutic application of Smart Patch is currently being pursued.
Haro Hartounian, president of Vyteris, said: “This study demonstrates the potential for delivering peptide molecules into the human body in therapeutic levels without the use of needles.
“The dose ranging study is another milestone for us in developing an effective peptide transdermal delivery product.”
Vyteris has recently chosen to realign its focus onto the transdermal peptide delivery market, with the company planning on entering into more development collaborations over the coming 18 months.
Vyteris’ belief that it can secure further deals is underpinned by the faith it has in the versatility of its Smart Patch system, which it claims offers advantages over current techniques in numerous fields, including cardiovascular, diabetes and pain management.
The technology works by releasing drug molecules through the skin upon application of a positive charge to the patch’s therapeutic-holding reservoir.
This occurs as many drugs are positively charged and are therefore repelled by electrical stimulation, forcing them out of the reservoir and through the skin.
Application of a stronger positive charge delivers the therapeutic deeper into the skin to enter the circulatory system, whereas weaker stimulation results in topical administration.
In addition the timing of therapeutic release can be controlled, with Vyteris claiming the patch “can be programmed to meet the needs of the given medical situation”.
Examples given by Vyteris include mimicking an injection, timed interval release and sustained delivery with the option for a spike in dosage if required.
It is the patch’s ability to deliver drugs at pre-programmed intervals that is being pursued in the current developmental collaboration as this characteristic is particularly well suited to the treatment of female fertility problems.
Through use of the patch Vyteris believes patient compliance will be increased in a painless and convenient way.
