SRI International Receives US Patent For New Bioadhesive Drug Delivery System

SRI International has received the US patent 7592021 for a new bioadhesive drug delivery system that enables enhanced release of drugs through the human body’s mucous membranes. The needle-free option uses gels for drug delivery and allows for a much longer release time compared to alternatives such as sprays or liquids.

The company claims that the sustained and enhanced release of therapeutic and preventive treatments enabled by SRI’s bioadhesive drug delivery invention can improve effectiveness and outcomes.

The patented formulation is a two-component polymeric solution one is responsive to pH and the other to temperature. On mixing and application to the physiological site, the two components form an adhesive gel that attaches to the mucosa, creating a platform for drug release, said the company.

The company’s transmucosal drug delivery system is equally well suited for both systemic conditions that affect the whole body and localised conditions that affect specific parts of the body. The needle-free technology can be used to safely deliver vaccines nasally, including those for pediatric use.

The bioadhesive drug delivery system was developed as part of an SRI project funded in part under a National Institutes of Health grant to develop a nasal formulation for anthrax antigens, suitable for mass-immunization in the event of a bioterrorism emergency,said the company.

Gita Shankar, director of formulations R&D at SRI and an inventor of the system, said: “This needle-free system can be used for drug delivery in any environment, even in locations where sterile medical supplies are unavailable. Offering this option to patients can increase access to safe, effective medical care for a wide variety of conditions.”