Shinshin Pharmaceutical Files Patent Application for Microneedle 'Injection Alternative Technology'

Shinshin Pharmaceutical announced on the 18th that it has completed a patent application for a microneedle composition for drug administration. Shinshin Pharmaceutical plans to accelerate the development of the world's first microneedle drug targeting localized arthritis by applying this technology.

The patent filed this time relates to a composition technology for coating peptides such as hyaluronidase onto microneedles. By applying this technology, biopharmaceuticals, which are mainly administered via injection, can be applied to microneedles. Shinshin Pharmaceutical succeeded in maximizing drug delivery rate and duration by improving the disadvantages of hyaluronidase components, which have a large molecular weight and short half-life.

Shinshin Pharmaceutical plans to expand the development of microneedle therapeutics starting with localized arthritis by utilizing its microneedle technology. The company explained that the new patented technology is effective in suppressing swelling and treating inflammation, and thus can be applied to the development of additional therapeutics beyond localized arthritis.

Microneedles are characterized by their ability to simultaneously maximize bioavailability and patient convenience compared to conventional formulations. When biopharmaceuticals are administered orally, the active ingredients are broken down in the stomach, reducing drug delivery effectiveness. Injections have high bioavailability but cause severe pain and require professional personnel. Microneedle drugs have the advantage of causing almost no pain during administration and allowing self-administration.

A representative from Shinshin Pharmaceutical stated, “Through the patent application related to biopharmaceuticals, we have established a technical barrier to entry for the development of microneedle drugs,” and added, “By applying our proprietary technology and R&D know-how related to transdermal drug delivery, we will strengthen our microneedle drug portfolio starting with treatments for localized arthritis.” He further noted, “Since we completed the establishment of our own microneedle research facilities last year, the development of therapeutics will accelerate.”

Shinshin Pharmaceutical has secured microsphere technology suitable for microneedle drug development by utilizing TDDS (Transdermal Drug Delivery System) technology. Microspheres are a technology that improves drug solubility and bioavailability and extends dosing intervals through molecular size and amorphous conversion processes. In addition to the patent filed this time, Shinshin Pharmaceutical has also filed two patents related to improving the bioavailability of microneedles.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.