For immediate release |
1 July 2013 |
Futura Medical PLC
("Futura" or the "Company")
Pain Relief Portfolio
Franchise now includes TPR100 plus programmes using ibuprofen and methyl salicylate
Futura Medical plc (AIM: FUM), the innovative healthcare company focused on advanced transdermal technology, is pleased to announce that it has added two new compounds to its portfolio of topical pain relief products. This follows positive in vitro studies on novel formulations incorporating the active ingredients ibuprofen and methyl salicylate.
The studies show that very high levels of skin penetration were achieved with each of ibuprofen and methyl salicylate when using Futura's highly efficient transdermal delivery system, DermaSys®. This rapid skin penetration offers potential benefits including improved speed of onset, greater depth and longer duration of pain relief.
The two new programmes complement TPR100, which uses DermaSys® with the non-steroidal inflammatory drug ("NSAID") diclofenac as its active ingredient.
In view of the portfolio opportunity, and for reasons unrelated to the product's technical development, Futura has mutually agreed with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare ("GSK"), to discontinue the development agreement for TPR100 at the end of June 2013.
Futura intends to appoint advisers to assist the Company in fully exploiting the significant potential offered by its portfolio of topically applied over-the-counter gels.
Futura's pain relief portfolio
TPR100 - a topical gel combining the NSAID diclofenac with the DermaSys® delivery system. TPR100 has been shown to achieve in excess of eight times higher penetration through human skin and 35 times greater bioavailability than achieved by the UK's best-selling topically applied diclofenac-based pain relief product, Voltarol® Emulgel
A graph and data showing the superior skin penetration of TPR100 is available at this link: www.futuramedical.co.uk/archive/painreliefclinicalgraphs.pdf. The link also shows the superior performance of the two new pain relief programmes described below, TIB200 and SPR300.
In addition to TPR100, we have developed a higher strength version, TPR100-Rx, to treat more profound pain associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatic pain. TPR100-Rx is expected to be a prescription product due to the medical indications.
TIB200 - a topical gel combining the well-known analgesic ibuprofen with the DermaSys® delivery system. TIB200 has been shown to achieve in excess of eight times higher penetration through isolated human skin compared with the UK's best-selling topically applied ibuprofen-based topical pain relief product, Nurofen®.
SPR300 - a topical gel combining methyl salicylate and menthol with the DermaSys® delivery system. SPR300 has been shown to achieve in excess of four times higher penetration through isolated human skin compared with the UK's best-selling topically applied methyl salicylate/menthol-based topical pain relief product, Deep Heat®.
In addition SPR300 was directly compared with the best-selling over-the-counter topically applied gels sold in the USA, Icy Hot® and Bengay®, and showed similarly improved permeation rates. It should be noted that the USA differs from Europe in that no NSAIDs are licensed as over-the-counter topically applied pain relief products.
It is not envisaged that any further clinical work will be required to obtain regulatory approval for SPR300 in the UK or USA. It is therefore intended to move ahead as soon as possible to obtain the necessary regulatory clearances to prepare the product for launch.
James Barder, Futura's Chief Executive, commented: "We are delighted to confirm that, after achieving impressive study results, we have added two new products to our pain relief portfolio. The two products, which use the active ingredients ibuprofen and methyl salicylate, highlight the innovative advantages of our DermaSys® technology. We believe the dramatic improvements achieved in drug permeation rates should lead to more rapid and improved pain relief.
"We would like to extend our thanks to GSK for their input in the development of TPR100, the development agreement for which, with the agreement of both parties, has been discontinued for non-clinical strategic reasons. Our pain relief franchise now includes three products available for out-licensing, all of which demonstrate significantly improved performance compared with commercially available products."
For any further information please contact:
Futura Medical plc |
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James Barder, Chief Executive |
Tel: +44 (0)1483 685 670 |
mail to: [email protected] |
www.futuramedical.com |
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Nomura Code Securities Limited |
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Phil Walker / Giles Balleny |
Tel:+44 (0)20 7776 1200 |
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For media enquiries please contact: |
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Buchanan |
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Mark Court / Fiona Henson / Sophie Cowles www.buchanan.uk.com |
Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000 |
Notes to Editors
Futura Medical plc
Futura Medical is a pharmaceutical group that develops innovative products for consumer healthcare. The Company is developing a portfolio of products and its strategy is to license their manufacture and distribution to major pharmaceutical and healthcare groups.
Futura is based in Guildford, Surrey, and its shares trade on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
www.futuramedical.com
