ABSTRACT
The OraVescent sublingual and buccal drug delivery systems have been designed to promote drug absorption through the oral mucosa. This may enable more rapid absorption of drugs that have a long Tmax. In other instances, this route of administration may be desirable in order to avoid the first pass effect and as a result improve the bioavailability of the drug. Some drugs are not absorbed to a significant extent when administered orally, and delivery through the oral cavity mucosa may represent a convenient method of administration. The formulation of drugs of this type into tablets for transmucosal absorption may replace injection as the route of administration. In some instances, the pathological condition of the patient detracts from efficient absorption of a drug that would otherwise be well absorbed. An obvious example is the patient who is vomiting frequently. In addition, gastrointestinal (GI) transit may be so severely compromised during a migraine attack as to render efficient drug absorption unlikely. Under these circumstances, a transmucosal system may be advantageous. The technology is patent-protected as described in the technical section; additional patents are pending.
