Spray-on Medications Coming For Animals

by Patricia Collier

Giving a pill to dogs, cats, and other animals will soon become much easier - for both the pill giver and the recipient.

The pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has worked out a $9.7 million licensing deal with Acrux, a drug-delivery company, to research and develop spray-on medicines for the animal health care industry.

Melbourne-based Acrux has already developed a spray-on applicator they call a "Metered Dose Transdermal System." The applicator allows a drug to be mixed with enhancers to help the drug absorb into the skin.

Acrux DDS, a subsidiary of Acrux, will work with Eli Lilly’s animal health division to promote the product for the $11 billion worldwide animal health market.

Australian Innovation Minister John Brumby said the technology could change dramatically how drugs were delivered to animals.

"For those of us who have tried to dose stressed, sick pets or farm animals with tablets or injections, this is a real step forward," Brumby said.

Acrux is also developing the transdermal product for use in hormone therapy and for treatment of severe pain, anxiety and depression. The company recently completed a Phase I human study for using the spray with Buspiron, an anti-anxiety medication.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.