As drug patents for large molecules expire, drug companies are seeking new ways to deliver these pharmaceuticals. Incorporating these agents into topical creams, zapping them into the skin using electrical currents, or using sprays are some of the new methods of drug delivery being examined. Teva’s newly acquired migraine match, Zecurity, delivers the drug using a low electrical current to penetrate the skin. Researchers are also working on a patch with microneedles that painlessly delivers biopharmaceuticals. This method may also be a cost-effective way to deliver immunizations without a traditional needle injection. Other methods being explored include local delivery with a spray via nasal mucosa and topical creams delivered through broken skin, like with psoriasis or wounds.
These methods may become more widely available with improved technology and the need for alternative drug delivery routes. Although these medications may have FDA approval, companies will still need to prove that topical delivery is as effective and safe as the drug’s oral or injectable form.
Needles no more: say hello to a tube of squeezable biologics
