obj lodges patent over new energy driven drug deli

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Thursday, 9 February 2006
OBJ LODGES PATENT OVER NEW ENERGY DRIVEN

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OBJ Limited (OBJ) announced today that provisional specifications had been lodged
with the Australian patent office covering a new active drug delivery technique. The
new technology, which is designed to influence the behavior of drug molecules, is in
addition to the company’s existing dermal permeability technology which controls the
barrier effect of skin.
The new intellectual property expands the capabilities of the company’s drug delivery
platforms and opens new opportunities in low concentration, short term and long term
active drug patch products.
The new “energy-drive” technique “pushes” drug molecules, providing far greater levels
of control over drug availability and blood plasma levels than previously thought
possible. The new technique works in parallel with the company’s existing technology
and provides the dual benefits of rapid initial drug availability with controlled
transdermal diffusion.
Normally, drug molecules migrate through the skin because of differences in
concentration between the medication and the body. Molecules will move from a higher
concentration area to the lower, in a process known as passive diffusion. With many
drugs, passive diffusion is too slow, too difficult to control, unsuited to drugs with large
molecular weights or needing to be delivered in low concentrations over extended
periods of time.
The new OBJ technology exploits a number of electrokinetic and thermodynamic
principals to create the first wireless active delivery system that provides separate
control over diffusion and skin permeability.
The graphs below, produced by the Western Australian Biomedical Research Institute,
demonstrates the clear differences between the passive delivery of low concentration
drugs and the company’s Dermaportation system. Passive diffusion, even after 4
hours, does not achieve detectable levels through human skin, however
Dermaportation shows a strong early energy delivery phase followed by controlled
permeability changes to the skin itself.
Cumulative amount of
the oncology drug
5-ALA penetrating
human epidermis
following application of
a 2% solution with
Dermaportation (0 - 4
h) or passive diffusion:
mean ± sem, n = 4/3
OBJ will continue to expand its core drug delivery technologies with a view to
developing rapid-onset, sustained and low concentration drug delivery products.
END:
Background to the Announcement
OBJ Limited is a drug delivery company, specializing in electronic “drug patch”
technologies that allow drugs, vaccines, therapeutic agents and cosmetic compounds
to be delivered more effectively and more efficiently through-the-skin.
The OBJ Dermaportation system has been shown to manage and control the
transdermal delivery of a broad range of drugs and therapeutic agents ranging from
small difficult molecules such as Caffeine, through to large macro-globular proteins
drugs such as vaccines.
OBJ’s technology has been independently proven in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies
and can manage a broader range of molecular sizes, structures and valencies than
other active or passive drug delivery systems.
OBJ has been successful in
managing the through-the-skin
delivery of drugs used in the
inflammation, pain, cancer and
cosmetic fields.
OBJ’s technology is low cost, and
can be incorporated into reusable
drug patches, (as illustrated)
disposable single use drug patches
and in a range of packaging
systems for OTC and retail use.
Sustainable Benefits
Low cost and controlled through-the-skin delivery of drugs, hormones, vitamins,
vaccines, anti-bodies and anti-aging molecules has long been the desire of the
pharmaceutical industry. It would provide economic, safety and efficacy benefits to the
pharmacology, medical, veterinary and cosmetic industries. Side effects could be
reduced by localized delivery and programmed delivery rates. Needle stick injuries and
needle disposable problems could be eliminated while the reduction in the level of skill
required for application could significantly reduce total cost of many health
programmes. These clear commercial benefits may only be achievable if the skin’s
natural barrier effect can be overcome.
OBJ is the first company to create a broad spectrum through-the-skin delivery system
that is kind to the skin, completely reversible, yet can handle drugs range from the
small difficult molecules up to the largest and most complex proteins and anti-bodies.
OBJ manages an extensive IP portfolio and prosecutes patent applications throughout
the world.
Independence of Results
OBJ contracts its drug and technology testing programs to independent and respected
organisations, such as Western Australian Biomedical Research Institute, Western
Australian Institute for Medical Research, Curtin University of Technology and Murdoch
University. The high level of independence and international accreditation means that
the results attributable to OBJ’s proprietary technology can be published and presented
at major medical and scientific conferences and forums.
For more information:
Jeffrey Edwards
Phone: +61 9 944 33011 Mobile: 041 791 2211 E-mail: [email protected]
OBJ Limited (ACN 056 482 636)
Ground Floor, 284 Oxford Street, Leederville, Western Australia 6007
Phone: +61 8 9443 3011 Fax: +61 8 9443 3866 Email: [email protected]