Korean pharmaceutical companies are competing to develop micro-needle patches. Micro-needles are one-third the thickness of a hair, only visible through a microscope. When the patches are applied to the skin like a band-aid, the needles dissolve, releasing medication. Drug delivery is easy and painless, and a variety of medicines, including treatments for obesity and hair loss, as well as vaccines, are being developed in patch form.
Daewoong Pharmaceutical and Daewoong Therapeutics announced last month that they are developing micro-needle patches containing semaglutide, the main ingredient in the obesity treatment Wegovy. The company has conducted initial drug absorption tests on 70 healthy adults to verify efficacy.
The micro-needle patches have surpassed an 80% bioavailability compared to injectable forms. This means that if injectable drugs are 100% absorbed, micro-needle patches achieve an 80% absorption rate. Compared to the 30% bioavailability of existing micro-needle patches, the drug delivery effectiveness has increased.
JW Pharmaceutical is developing a hair loss treatment in collaboration with Theraject Asia, a Korean micro-needle specialist. An official from JW Pharmaceutical noted, "It is more convenient to take medication using micro-needle patches than oral medications since you just need to apply the patch."
SK bioscience is developing a typhoid vaccine in collaboration with the Australian vaccine company Vaxxas through micro-needle patches. SK bioscience provides the antigen proteins of the typhoid bacteria, while Vaxxas develops the micro-needle patch formulation that adheres the antigen to the skin.
According to the global market research firm Future Market Insights, the global micro-needle pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow from $621.6 million (870 billion won) in 2019 to $1.2039 billion (1.7 trillion won) by 2030. The bright market outlook is attributed to the potential increase in demand as patients find them easy to use.
The needles in micro-needle patches are thin and do not penetrate deeply into the skin, preventing pain. They do not touch nerve cells. An industry insider stated, "Micro-needle patches can help patients overcome the fear of syringes," adding, "It is also possible for patients to apply them themselves without medical assistance, and they are free from infection risks associated with the reuse of syringe needles."
An official from SK bioscience stated, "Developing vaccines as micro-needle patches can improve vaccination rates among children and the elderly," adding that "the absence of syringe waste is also an advantage."