Phosphagenics claims promising insulin results

Melbourne's Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) has successfully delivered insulin through the skin of animals using its patented transdermal drug delivery system TPM-01.

"Development of alternative forms of delivering insulin has been a long standing issue for the treatment of diabetes - this is a substantial breakthrough," said Phosphagenics chairman and independent director, Assoc Prof Andrew Vizard.

Phosphagenics said there is currently no transdermal insulin commercially available and at present, insulin is administered only by injection with some patients requiring three to four injections daily.

"Up until now you had to have injections and this leads to a lot of problems. Transdermal allows much better compliance and a continuous delivery of insulin which could have significant benefits," Vizard said.

Transdermal drug delivery is the administration of drugs using a gel or patch applied to the skin. Phosphagenics said its recent animal trials have demonstrated the ability of larger protein molecules or peptides, such as insulin and parathyroid hormone, to be delivered through the skin and enter the bloodstream.

In April, Phosphagenics released results of phase I clinical trials which showed TPM-01 was successful in administering morphine safely and efficiently through the skin, maintaining therapeutic levels of the drug over a period of at least 48 hours. The company is now planning a Phase II efficacy trial.

"It is quite an array of chemical compounds that have shown proof of principle of safe and efficiently delivered through the skin. We have been able to administer morphine, atropine, oestrogen, testosterone, parathyroid hormone and now insulin, and this is just the beginning - we have a very broad platform technology," Vizard said.

Clinical trials of a TPM-01 insulin product are scheduled to begin in early 2006 after further enhancements. Phosphagenics will be seeking additional funds through a combination of grants, commercial partnerships and capital raisings.