TRANSDERMAL LEVONORGESTREL FOR EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

该项目将尝试开发一种透皮系统，能够在24小时内提供足够的左炔诺孕酮，以提供与目前批准的口服方法一样有效的紧急性交后避孕，但更方便，副作用更少。I期可行性研究将寻求确认和改善BIOTEK在过去的避孕和抗骨质疏松贴片工作中观察到的左炔诺孕酮通量。这样的通量将允许贴片输送更多的左炔诺孕酮。目前可用于紧急预防意外怀孕的口服药物会产生非常令人不快的副作用，而经皮给药则不太可能引起这种副作用。这种产品的开发涉及证明和实施左炔诺孕酮（一种高度不溶性类固醇）的高透皮通量。这将为激素替代疗法、避孕、预防骨质疏松症和治疗内分泌紊乱等领域的其他新产品打开大门。

This program will attempt to develop a transdermal system capable of delivering enough levonorgestrel in 24 hours to provide emergency postcoital contraception as effective as currently approved oral methods, but with greater convenience and fewer side effects. The Phase I feasibility study will seek to confirm and improve on levonorgestrel fluxes of observed by BIOTEK during past work on contraceptive and anti- osteoporosis patches. Such fluxes would allow a patch to deliver more levonorgestrel. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION Oral medications now available for the emergency prevention of unwanted pregnancies cause very unpleasant side effects, which transdermal delivery is less likely to provoke. The development of such a product involves demonstrating and implementing a very high transdermal flux for levonorgestrel, a highly insoluble steroid. This should open the door to other new products in such areas as hormone replacement therapy, contraception, prevention of osteoporosis, and treatment of endocrine disorders.