The possibilities of your agent, nasally applied

Until now, your agent is applied by transdermal patch, by oral intake or even rectally, perhaps parenterally.

Apart from meeting innovative indications or providing improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, nasal applications offer benefits in marketing: generating line extensions attracting new customers; giving off-patent products a new selling proposition offering compelling buying reasons; or even giving off-patented products a new patent based on the new formulation.

For example, progesterone MetP, nasally applied, protects the brain from damage after concussion and promotes sleep – a helpful effect, providing an additional patent.

Or, the MetP testosterone complex, nasally applied, demonstrated benefits on both inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms relevant to multiple sclerosis (MS). We at MetP, therefore, are proud to have an additional patent on this indication.

A possible alternative to intrathecal delivery or infusion into brain ventricles

In case your molecule cannot cross the Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB) or the Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier (BSCB) and/or it is a biologic, there are two ways to deliver the molecule to the nervous system: either by intrathecal delivery or by infusion into brain ventricles.

However, intranasal delivery to the brain is much easier and even non-invasive; it delivers drugs in minutes from the nose to the brain and other connected structures along the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways, bypassing the blood-brain barrier.

For example, due to dopamine’s (DA) hydrophilic properties, it cannot cross the BBB. Therefore, the dopamine precursor, l-DOPA is used to replenish DA. Intra-nasally administered MetP DA however does in fact enter the brain, leading to an immediate increase in extra-cellular DA levels, e.g. in striatal subregions. And again, there is an additional effect and an additional patent.

In short: the therapeutical, medical, situative advantages

Nasal delivery achieves effects comparable to the parenteral route. Drugs are directly delivered to the central nervous system, and thereby minimizing systemic exposure. Also, mucosal as well as systemic immunity is induced after nasal vaccination. Furthermore: Nasal application facilitates the work for rescue teams; by its discreet application it is also most welcome in case of e.g. epileptic attacks. It is easy to use for children and the elderly, is favorable for multi-morbid patients and, of course, in case of needle phobia. Compliance is almost guaranteed.