Polymer patch delivers ibuprofen through the skin

Researchers at the University of Warwick have worked with Medherant, a Warwick spinout company, to produce and patent the first ibuprofen patch that delivers the drug directly through skin at a consistent dose rate

They have invented a transparent adhesive patch that can consistently deliver a prolonged high dose of the painkiller ibuprofen directly through the skin.

University of Warwick research chemist professor David Haddleton said: “Many commercial patches don’t contain any pain relief agents at all. Our technology now means that we can for the first time produce patches that contain effective doses of active ingredients such as ibuprofen for which no patches currently exist.”

The University of Warwick researchers and Medherant have found a way to incoporate significant amounts of ibuprofen into the polymer matrix that sticks the patch to the patient’s skin with the drug then being delivered at a steady rate over 12 hours. 

This opens the way for the development of a range of novel long-acting over-the-counter pain relief products which can be used to treat common painful conditions like chronic back pain, neuralgia and arthritis without the need to take potentially damaging doses of the drug orally.

This patch incorporates polymer technology developed by the global adhesive company Bostik and licensed for transdermal use to Medherant.

Medherant’s new patch technology remains highly tacky and thus adheres well to skin even when the drug load reaches levels as high as 30% of the weight/volume of the patch. The drug load made possible by this technology can be 5 -10 times than that found in some currently used medical patches and gels.

Haddleton said: “There are only a limited number of existing polymers that have the right characteristics to be used for this type of transdermal patches - that will stick to the skin and not leave residues when being easily removed.

“Furthermore, there are also only a limited number of drugs that will dissolve into these existing polymers.

“Medherant’s technology now opens up the field of transdermal drug delivery to previously non-compatible drugs.

“Our success in developing this breakthrough patch design isn’t limited to ibuprofen; we have also had great results testing the patch with methyl salicylate.”

Nigel Davis CEO of Medherant said: “Our first products will be over-the-counter pain relief patches and through partnering we would expect to have the first of those products on the market in around 2 years.”