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Unlocking the Potential of Diclofenac: Breakthrough in Enhancing Permeability

Introduction

The ability to efficiently overcome skin barriers is critical to the efficacy of topical medication administration. Drug penetration is a major difficulty in assuring the effectiveness of topical medication administration in the skin due to the skin barrier specifically the stratum corneum, which restricts drug penetration into the body.

 

Akums Drugs and Pharmaceutical Ltd's diclofenac formulations contain a unique blend of inert excipients that enhances diclofenac's ability to penetrate the skin by 37.55%, from 22.56%. This results in improved therapeutic efficacy for treating osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis, making it potentially superior to diclofenac gel formulations with lower penetration depths.

 

Skin Barrier in Tropical Formulations: Importance of Overcoming It

 

NSAIDs are commonly used for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. However, their prolonged use can cause systemic adverse effects such as gastrointestinal toxicity and an increased risk of certain cardiovascular and cerebrovascular problems. The topical application of NSAIDs provides similar clinical efficacy with fewer systemic side effects and a lower risk of drug interactions. Despite its benefits, the primary obstacle to effective drug delivery through topical NSAID treatment is the stratum corneum (SC), which acts as the primary barrier to the skin. Dermal penetration and permeation rate depend on the medication's diffusion across the selectively permeable stratum corneum which is influenced by its structure and biological content.

 

Akums’ Novel Approach to Boosting Permeability

 

As per a 2021 report, 13 million people in India are affected by rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation in specific parts of the body. Effective care for rheumatoid arthritis is crucial for long-term benefits and improved quality of life. Diclofenac transdermal formulation alleviates symptoms like inflammation, stiffness, edema, and joint pain in both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Enhancing diclofenac permeability is crucial for the more effective treatment of localized pain and inflammation by allowing it to penetrate deeper into the skin. However, the stratum corneum in conventional topical formulations can limit drug absorption.

 

 Excipients in topical NSAID formulations are expected to influence drug solubility, diffusion into the formulation, release from the formulation, penetration into the stratum corneum, and permeation into deeper skin layers, all of which influence skin absorption. Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals developed a diclofenac gel that incorporates Exederm technology and a blend of unique excipients. The diclofenac gel penetrates deep into the skin, enhancing its effectiveness in treating pain and inflammation. This technology and excipient blend increase diclofenac absorption, offering a potential means of managing arthritic symptoms. Excederm technology alters the dynamics and permeation characteristics of the stratum corneum membrane by extracting lipids and interacting with keratin, allowing for drug movement through it. This novel diclofenac formulation will aid in the successful management of rheumatoid arthritis by lowering chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, thereby improving a person's mobility.

 

Akums' Excederm technology can be utilized in the development of topical formulations for drugs other than diclofenac, provided that the compatibility between the drug and excipients is thoroughly evaluated.

 

Conclusion

Improving drug penetration in the skin is critical as it can improve the efficacy of topical treatments, allowing for better management of various diseases. This can result in better patient outcomes, lower healthcare expenditures, and a higher quality of life for patients.

 

Akums is dedicated to enhancing the lives of patients by continuously striving towards innovative research and the development of new drug formulations. Through this commitment, Akums aims to provide patients with better treatment options and improve the efficacy and safety of medications, ultimately contributing to the overall advancement of healthcare.