3M patch tech under assessment for osteoporosis drug delivey

A transdermal patch technology developed by 3M Drug Delivery could lead to new injection free, compliance-boosting treatments for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Massachusetts, US based biopharma Radius Health has started a Phase II trial of BA058 - peptide analog of human Parathyroid Hormone related Peptide (hPTHrP) – that uses 3M’s Microstructured Transdermal System microneedle technology.

Part of the rational for the research is to compare how well the delivery tech – which is designed to be worn for just a few minutes – with the same drug administrated via subcutaneous injection.

Radius CEO Michael Wyzga said: "The short wear-time transdermal delivery, based on 3M's technology, is intended to improve patient compliance and ease of use, and could potentially grow the opportunity in treating osteoporosis -- an underserved market."

"Our Phase 2 data for BA058-Injection (BA058-SC) demonstrates strong clinical evidence of bone-building capability, and with the initiation of this BA058-Transdermal (BA058-TD) trial, we seek to translate these results into a next generation transdermal formulation for the broader market."

And previous research suggests the microneedles could be effective. Investigator Paul Miller from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, said: "In a Phase 1b study, BA058-TD showed that with a short wear-time of five minutes, peak drug levels were consistent with subcutaneous injection."

3M has been working with Radius since 2011 when the firms partnered to develop the formulations and production processes needed to deliver BA058 through the skin using the patch system.

At the time 3M told in-Pharmatechnologist.com that the Radius collaboration is one of a number of microneedle-focused projects it is involved in at the moment.