Development of a novel drug delivery system for targeted treatment of ulcerative colitis
The DDS2 capsule enables more precise dosing and higher local concentrations at the site of disease.
There remains a significant medical need for safe and effective therapeutics to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Targeted drug delivery directly to the colon has the potential to improve drug absorption at the site of inflammation, improving the efficacy of treatment.
The Drug Delivery System 2 (DDS2) is an ingestible electronic capsule that can deliver therapeutic compounds to a defined location in the gastrointestinal tract. It is comprised of a drug reservoir containing a liquid formulation of the therapeutic compound, a removable cap, and an electronic module. We conducted this pre-clinical proof-of-concept study to demonstrate the functionality of the DDS2 capsule.1
What did we find?
Two marker drugs, acetaminophen and sulfasalazine, were loaded into the capsule’s drug reservoir. Acetominophen absorption indicated drug release and sulfasalazine metabolism to sulfapyridine indicated colonic arrival.
By applying this novel technology, the DDS2 has the potential to address unmet therapeutic needs for inflammatory bowel disease.
Pharmacokinetic profiles of both drugs showed that the DDS2 capsule autonomously identified the colonic entry and delivered the drugs to the colon successfully.
This research was presented at the virtual Digestive Disease Week on May 23, 2021.
Related Publications
References
- Lee SN, Shimizu J, Stork C, et al. Development of a novel Drug Delivery System 2 (DDS2) for colon targeted delivery treatment of ulcerative colitis. Poster presented at Digestive Disease Week virtual conference, May 2021.
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