Transdermal & Implantable: research reports

Transdermal/transmucosal drug delivery can be used for both topical and systemic applications, and offers advantages over conventional methods, including no pain or fear, low risk of infection, lower doses, fewer drug side effects, and more even drug delivery over a longer period of time. There are two fundamental types of transdermal/transmucosal drug delivery devices or dosage forms: Skin-controlled devices designed to rely on the skin to control the rate at which the drug diffuses into the body and system-controlled devices in which the transdermal system provides the majority of the control of the rate of drug input to the body.

The transdermal/transmucosal drug delivery market is two-fold. First of all, it encompasses drug delivery technology and the revenues earned from licensing that technology. Secondly, it encompasses the pharmaceutical arena as well.

Implantable drug delivery is used as depot formulations either to limit high drug concentrations to the immediate area surrounding the pathology or to provide sustained drug release for systemic therapy. Clinically, implant systems have been used in situations where chronic therapy is indicated, such as hormone replacement therapy and chemical castration in the treatment of prostate cancer. Implants are used for the delivery of anticancer agents as they are able to confine potentially toxic anticancer drugs to tumor sites and also allow sustained drug release.

Reports in this category include a focus on drug delivery markets.