Norwood patent position grows apace

Norwood Abbey (ASX: NAL) has been issued two more US patents for its proprietary drug delivery platform.

One of the patents, 'Delivery of pharmaceutical compounds and collection of biomolecules using electromagnetic energy and uses thereof', describes a method or system that uses non-ionising electromagnetic energy to enhance continuous delivery of pharmaceutical compounds in a target.

The second patent, 'Irradiation Enhanced Permeation and Collection', describes a method to collect biomolecules by permeation through the skin as well as delivery of substances via permeability through the skin. The method relies on enhancing permeability of the skin by energising the stratum corneum in conjunction with various collection and delivery means.

Norwood's director of marketing, Bernie Romanin, said that the patents would further strengthen Norwood's patent position in its drug delivery technology platform. "We now have about 18 patents and patent applications around this technology," he explained.

Norwood is waiting for the US FDA to approve its laser drug delivery device for local anaesthetics. "As soon as we get regulatory approval we'll be jumping into the deep end on commercialisation," said Romanin.

Last month the company announced that it would be marketing the product with US drug company Ferndale Laboratories.

At the time of writing Norwood Abbey's shares had dropped one cent to 59 cents.