Pantec Biosolutions Unveils Preclinical Data for Novel Transdermal Drug Delivery Platform

Pantec Biosolutions AG reports promising preclinical in vitro data in support of the company’s P.L.E.A.S.E.® intraepidermal drug delivery platform.

Pantec Biosolutions has achieved further important milestones in the replacement of injection-based therapies with painless needle-free transdermal systems.

In vitro permeation “proof-of-principle” studies with a series of small and large molecular weight therapeutics, demonstrate that P.L.E.A.S.E.® (Painless Laser Epidermal System) significantly increases drug transport of poorly and non-permeating therapeutic agents. “Proof-of-principle”, according to Dr. Yogeshvar Kalia, (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva and Scientific Advisor to Pantec Biosolutions), “means cumulative drug permeation that is at least equivalent to delivery from the existing dosage form, e.g., by subcutaneous injection.”

The company has completed in vitro permeation studies with several key hormones in its primary focus area of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The results formed the basis of collaboration agreements with a pharmaceuticals company and a patch development and manufacturing company.

Development of transdermal patch systems, optimized for use with the P.L.E.A.S.E.® technology, is underway with clinical results expected in 2009. At present, Pantec Biosolutions is financing the entire project and, in line with its business strategy, is open to licensing both its P.L.E.A.S.E.®  technology and the transdermal patches in a “one stop shop” concept.

In the area of pain management, Pantec Biosolutions has completed investigations with diclofenac (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) and lidocaine (a topical anaesthetic).

The diclofenac results indicate that significantly more drug can be administered topically using P.L.E.A.S.E.® ; providing real scope for increasing the current range of indications. Furthermore, topical administration will alleviate the risk of gastrointestinal and other systemic side effects.

Lidocaine is a topical anaesthetic used to numb the skin and underlying tissue before needle-stick procedures, e.g. venipuncture, and at present the slow onset of effect limits its wider use. Microporation prior to lidocaine application results in substantially faster action and enables the needle procedure to be performed minutes after applying the anaesthetic.