PORTFOLIO

One in four individuals globally is afraid of needles. However, every day, millions of patients have to inject their medicines to manage diseases like diabetes and osteoporosis. This practice not only inflicts pain and discomfort but also substantially contributes to medical waste. Unfortunately, these medicines cannot be taken orally as they face rapid degradation or are too large to overcome gastrointestinal barriers on their way to the bloodstream. Consequently, developing painless alternatives for the delivery of these drugs remains an exceptionally formidable task, with only a few marketed products. At OBaris AG, we strive to revolutionize this landscape. In tackling the aforementioned challenge, we drew inspiration from nature and created the OctoPatch®—a small, needle-free patch inspired by an octopus sucker. This innovative patch can be easily self-applied to the inner side of the cheek, where it stays for a short period of time, such as during one's morning routine, before it is removed. Combining a gentle stretching of the barrier with natural permeation enhancers, the OctoPatch® enables the efficient absorption of these drugs into the bloodstream. Furthermore, it is a platform technology capable of delivering various injectable drugs with minimal waste production. Our mission is to alleviate the burden associated with injections for both patients and healthcare systems, while reducing the environmental impact linked to medical waste.

Semaglutide-loaded OctoPatch® was selected as the first product and optimized to enhance efficacy while preventing local irritation. In parallel, the scale-up manufacturing process was established. Currently, the regulatory strategy is being validated and the seed round initiated. At the end of this project, the first product will be ready to enter regulatory preclinical and clinical studies, supported by the seed funds. Additionally, the enhanced formulation showcased the potential for further improvements, attracting partners and reducing costs for already interested parties.