3M and Radius Health to ally on osteoporosis therapy

3M has announced a new alliance with Radius Health pertaining the development of BA058-transdermal, a new therapy for osteoporosis.

The company's drug delivery systems division will work with Radius on the development and commercialisation of the novel, synthetic proprietary peptide analog of human parathyroid hormone-related protein, a bone-building anabolic compound.

It is a short-wear time patch based on 3M's patented Microstructured Transdermal System (MTS) technology and combines the ease of use, convenience and self-administration attributes of a patch with the therapeutic benefits of the compound itself.

Ingrid Blair, the MTS and transdermal drug delivery business vice president of 3M Drug Delivery Systems, said: "We believe this new drug potentially will improve the health of patients with severe osteoporosis and that 3M’s microneedle patch technology may improve medication compliance among patients."

3M Drug Delivery Systems has partnered with pharmaceutical companies worldwide for more than 50 years, with 50 percent of all metered dose inhaler systems worldwide and 80 percent of transdermal systems in the US now utilising the company's technology.