Second Stage Ventures acquires rights to innovative drug delivery system

Development stage biotechnology company Second Stage Ventures, based in Las Vegas, US, has acquired the intellectual property rights relating to a non-invasive drug delivery device that allows for the transdermal delivery of insulin and other large molecule drugs.

The technology uses a standard transdermal patch along with a proprietary sonic applicator that deploys ultrasound in a unique combination of wave-forms to introduce drug molecules through the skin that normally could not be effectively delivered transdermally.

The company acquired the rights, including a number of patents pending and other proprietary technology, from Encapsulation Systems, a private biotech firm based in the Philadelphia area. The technology could potentially extend the patent life cycle of existing FDA-approved drugs through the utilisation of new drug delivery systems and enables the effective delivery of new biopharmaceuticals and other drugs comprised of macromolecular proteins and peptides.

Additional research and development as well as FDA approval is required before Second Stage Ventures is able to market products based on the technology. It is currently focusing its efforts on conducting additional human pilot trials and plans to follow these with clinical trials.

'We are excited about the prospects for this technology and, in addition to our testing programme, we are exploring a number of strategic alliances with large pharmaceutical companies seeking to expand the market share for drugs that they are currently marketing,' said Bruce Haglund, chairman of Second Stage Ventures. 'The market opportunity for needle-free delivery of insulin is very significant, and Second Stage Ventures is uniquely positioned to make inroads into this large, high growth market.'