Rubicon BioMetrix believes it is well positioned to develop new drug product candidates for delivery into and through the skin. Our technology represents a major advancement in transdermal drug delivery and, for the first time, would allow almost any drug to be efficiently delivered through the skin. The enabling technology makes use of the skin’s natural enzymes to produce an active drug ready for delivery by the blood stream and also for local action. The drug candidates are applied using a patchless cream or gel based technology for the targeted or systemic delivery of drugs.
Conventional modes of drug administration (e.g., intravenous, intramuscular and oral), although effective, are not without significant drawbacks, which include:
- In some cases, poor therapeutic ratios of efficacy and toxicity
- Untoward amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients are required
- Trauma associated with injections
- Gastrointestinal problems associated with oral drugs
- High costs
- Decreased patient compliance
These and other limitations were the drivers for our search of novel methods of drug delivery. Rubicon BioMetrix’ transdermal drug delivery is a paradigm that maximizes the therapeutic usefulness of new and existing pharmaceuticals and biological compounds. Our company intends to apply this technology to anti-inflammatory drugs for the following but not exclusive reasons:
- Gastro-duodenal ulceration in 5–20 % of patients taking anti-inflammatory drugs.
- These risk factors become even greater with continuous drug use and the elderly.
Keeping in mind, the current demographic shift towards aging populations, Rubicon BioMetrix’ approach to delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs becomes highly compelling.
Advantages of Transdermal Drug Delivery
Delivering a drug through the skin rather than taking it orally is potentially safer as it bypasses the gastrointestinal tract thereby avoiding gastro-intestinal problems, first pass liver effect, and interaction with other oral drugs. Since liver metabolism is bypassed, and also the partial degradation of the drug in the stomach due to its high acidity is avoided, lower doses of medication can be used. Furthermore, liver toxicity can be reduced, consequently resulting in fewer and less severe side effects, as well as avoiding potential monitoring issues, including liver biopsies.
Patchless creams or gel based technology release the drug gradually over a prolonged period of time, generating steady-state drug concentration levels in the blood, increasing efficacy, and decreasing the incidence and frequency of side effects. Transdermal drug delivery can also target specific areas directly at the site of application with small doses of a drug avoiding the need to deliver massive oral doses, possibly responsible for side effects.
The multitude of benefits from administering drugs via our transdermal delivery technique is also expected to result in enhanced patient compliance.
By applying our technology, Rubicon BioMetrix develops delivery solutions for major-market drugs that it believes:
- Offer new treatment options for difficult-to-medicate patients
- Minimize drug-drug interactions often associated with oral dosage forms
- Can get licensees quickly and inexpensively to market
- Can potentially extend the patent lives of highly-valued drug brands with collaborating licensing
The company thus intends to pursue collaborations with third parties, directed towards developing prospective products outside of its focus of anti-inflammatory drugs. Extension to other classes of drugs, particularly anti-pain substances, can also be considered.
Rubicon BioMetrix principals believe its technology holds enormous long-term clinical and economic potential in a multi billion marketplace for treating millions of people in the industrial and developing world’s growing population, who will increasingly look to drug therapy as a cost-contained first line of attack.