What is transdermal patches? (Transdermal Drug Delivery System)

• Featured transdermal patches
• Advantages of transdermal patches
• Our transdermal patches business
• Life cycle management and our philosophy

Featured transdermal patches

A variety of drugs are used in transdermal patches, also known as tapes or transdermal patches.
Speaking of transdermal patches, we think of anti-inflammatory analgesics such as lower back pain. Those kind of patches act on local parts of body, therefore we call them “Topical formulation” Conversely there is systemic formulation applied in cardiovascular disease, asthma, and CNS (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease).
In addition, anti-emetics used in cancer treatment are now on sale overseas the transdermal patches is expanding globally.

Advantages of transdermal patches

Transdermal patches that are applied to the skin have several advantages.

Excellent safety

Although it is not fast-acting because the active ingredient is gradually absorbed through the skin, it has the advantage that the blood concentration remains constant over a long period of time when the patch is applied. Additionally, unlike oral agents, it can avoid the first-pass effect, and be expected to reduce the burden on the liver.

Easy to take medication

Even people who have difficulty swallowing such as the elderly people or infant can take a transdermal patch by their caregivers or family members. 

Moreover, if an adverse events should occur, absorption of the drug can be stopped by removing patches from their skins.

Medication status can be visualized (improving adherence)

When it comes to drug therapy, it is important to take the medicine as your physicians indicate. But a major benefit of transdermal patches is that you can avoid forgetting to take and overdosing, which is the often case with oral medicines.
Improving medication adherence by ”visualizing” the medication status will also alleviate the worries of patients and family as well who have troubles with medication compliance.

Our transdermal patches business

Based on the our own technologies such as monomer molecular design, molecular weight control, and technologies for imparting physical properties and functionality, we have developed original products such as pressure sensitive adhesives, adhesive tapes, can coatings and marking films for outdoor decorations.
In July 2016, we took over the transdermal patches business from Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd. and obtained the authorization of manufacturing and marketing business in pharmaceuticals. 
In this transdermal patches business, we are developing "the more skin-friendly transdermal patches" that is demanded by the medical field and patients by integrating our healthcare material technologies, mainly the adhesive adhesives.

Life cycle management and our philosophy

Under the current drug pricing system, it is becoming difficult to recover development costs in a short period of time, but against this background transdermal patches are attracting drug as lifecycle management at pharmaceutical companies.
For pharmaceutical companies, by adding new promising forms on marketed medicines of which efficacy and safety have been approved already, it will be possible to extend their life cycle of pharmaceuticals.
On the other hand, it is also beneficial for patients to expand their options for taking medication by adding a new rout of medicine. 

The chart shows the rate of replacement from brand-name drugs to generic drugs in oral drugs(left) and external agents including patches (right). It illustrates that external drugs are lower rate of replacement than oral one. 
There may be various reasons why external subscription drugs are preferred. It is not only the efficacy of the active ingredients, but also the unique feeling of application of transdermal patches and their compatibility with the skin, for example, sticking and peeling.
"We want to create medicines that give patients peace of mind" and "We want to contribute to the longevity of important drugs" are the two most important thoughts of TOYOCHEM, which is committed to the development transdermal patches.