The full patent can be had at:
patents.ibm.com
Keith, I'm a bit skeptical about the proprietary position here. I'm a Ph.D. synthetic chemist w/ about 11 years in pharmaceutical discovery and development. I also have experience w/ pharma patents and the FDA. What you got here is a use patent on simple salt forms of Minoxidil (Pharmacia & Upjohn's topical hair growth product, Rogaine).
rogaine.com
Use patents, in general are poor protection. If they can obtain composition of matter on a particular salt form, then they are safer. I would guess that the original Upjohn patents contemplated all reasonable salt forms, though.
As I understand it, GM will use mild electrical current to drive the drug salt into the hair follicle, increasing absorption. It may well work better than simple topical administration for those that respond to Minoxidil, but obviously patient compliance is an issue here. Presumably, a patient has to present at a "center", get their head lathered (or chest, depending on how manly you are, heh....) and get a set of electrodes attached to drive the drug into the skin. This type of administration has worked well for self contained electric patches for delivery of systemic drugs, but given the surface area involved, I doubt it could be effectively self administered.
Just my thoughts........I'll wait for the rest of the story.
Long CVIA.
Todd |
