18th May 2017
Nemaura Pharma Memspatch
addresses diabetics fear of needle puncture pain
Results of recent clinical trials carried out on type 1 diabetics by Nemaura Pharma
using its Memspatch Insulin Micro-needle Device (IMD) will come as a relief to those who fear needles and injections, a condition medically known as trypanophobia, affecting 10 percent of the world’s population.
Nemaura’s Memspatch IMD compared favourably against a commonly-use marketed Pen Injector (PI). The single-site clinical study involving 18 Type 1 diabetic patients took place over two periods, with a pain assessment performed on each visit to evaluate the severity and quality of the pain.
The Numeric Pain Rating Score system 0 – 10 was used; which scores no pain at 0, through to 10 indicating the most intense pain sensation imaginable. Patients were asked to record their experience of the respective IMD and PI devices and to think about the intensity, sharpness and itchiness of the pain immediately after administration.
Whilst pain intensity and sharpness inflicted by the PIreached 5 for several patients, the Memspatch IMD recorded 0 or 1 when applied to the arm or thigh.
These major reductions in pain levels are a result of the novel approach Nemaura has taken to drug delivery systems. The Memspatch IMD is held flat against the skin, with skin-penetration confined to a depth of 2mm to 4mm, which is less than half the usual 9mm depth for pen injector needles. Insulin delivery through shallow micro-needles requires little training or basic skills, making self-medication much easier.
Commenting on the study results, Nemaura CEO Dr Faz Chowdhury said: “Needle phobia is a major barrier to health. We have looked carefully at the human factors restricting diabetics wanting to self-administer insulin,and have developed the Memspatch IMD to avoid puncture pain, and to improve treatment compliance. Over 50 percent of adults with Type 2 Diabetes delay starting insulin due to needle fear, and over 90 percentfeel fear reactions every time they inject¹. So we would encourage the take-up of Memspatch IMD technology to help diabetics better manage their condition.”
Further Memspatch tests are planned later this year on a broad range of other medicines alongside insulin, as Nemaura moves towards commercial partner agreements on multiple medical conditions.
In 2016, Nemaura received Frost & Sullivan recognition of its advanced micro-needle capability in skin drug delivery. Nemaura aims to be one of the leading pharmaceutical technologists in this fast growing market, which is expected to be worth £33billion by 2018.
Founded in 2005, Nemaura has patents secured or pending across multiple patent families and now employs over 25 medical device technologists and bio scientists based on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.
Media enquiries: Louise Third +44 (0) 7773 288342
pr@nemaura.co.uk
Business Development enquiries: David Scott + 44 (0)1509 222 912
bd@nemaura.co.uk
About Nemaura Pharma
www.nemaura.co.uk
Founded in 2005, Nemaura Pharma is a private specialist biotech
company with headquarters and research facilities in the Advanced Technology Centre on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) in the United Kingdom.
The company employs multi-disciplinary teams of scientists and engineers working in cutting-edge innovative drug formulation and medical device technologies designed to radically improve the way drugs are administered through the skin. It has patents secured or pending in multiple countries across numerous patent families.
The company has secured over £25m (over $30m) in licensing and development payments, and private investment. In addition, Nemaura has been awarded five highly competitive British Government grants, and the Frost & Sullivan 2016 Enabling Technology Leadership Award in Transdermal Drug Delivery.
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The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements.