Empowered Patient Podcast Novel Oral Suspension Drug Delivery System to Improve Absorption and Adherence with Michael Demurjian Aspargo Labs
Michael Demurjian is Chairman and CEO of Aspargo Labs, a drug development company focused on improving drug delivery through suspension-based formulation and smart device technology. Traditional pill-based drug delivery has significant limitations, with poor absorption rates and difficulties swallowing for many patients. The company's initial focus is on an oral spray formulation of sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction that has shown rapid absorption. Suspension technology can be applied to reformulate many prescription and over-the-counter drugs to improve drug delivery, adherence, the onset of action, and user experience.
Michael explains, "Here at Aspargo we have a proprietary technology, both in the suspension and in how we coat it, so that we can mask the taste of the drug itself. And so I know you're going to probably go down the path of our first drug to market, and I'll answer the next question, but masking is key because there are two things that happen with the masking. One is you make it more of a pleasant experience. People are more willing to adhere and comply than administering the drugs. If you don't, people are going to say, my goodness, that tasted horrible, and I'm not going to do that again. Or they're going to be resistant in particular children, they won't do it."
"Well, 30 years in the drug development business, and I will tell you, you bring an ED product to market where you're showing a five-minute absorption time, it captures a lot of people's attention. So we've been very well received. Our first drug to market is an oral spray, sildenafil, which is the active ingredient in Viagra. And what we've shown is a five-minute absorption time. So, it has a lovely peppermint flavor. Now, here's the key there. Sildenafil is extremely bitter. It's one of the top 20 most bitter drugs that is manufactured. Our taste is peppermint. Through the proprietary technology that we have, we've successfully bonded the flavor agents right to the molecule without damaging it. I'll tell you, it's an interesting experience. Typically, it's the medical community. But when you're looking at a drug like Sildenafil, it's a consumer experience as well."
"You have to remind yourself the efficiency of absorption is critical. We look at patients, particularly in oncology, where we know that if they miss a dose of a medicine, cancers rapidly reproduce. So, missing one dose can set a patient back. What we look at and focus on is two things. One is our device to remind patients to dose their medicine. And if they forget that their physician, the physician assistant, or the office manager can intervene and text or call them saying your device just said you didn't dose. That's key."
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