R. Saul Levinson

Advancing vaginal drug delivery

Bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis are the two most common forms of vaginitis in female patients. Although a variety of effective treatments have been available to eradicate these infections, limitations have lessened the utility of previously available products. Oral therapies are often fraught with systemic adverse reactions, as well as the potential to interact with concomitant medications. Vaginal preparations, although generally perceived as safer, have historically been undesirable for women to use due to their multiple days of dosing; messy, dripping creams; and requisite night-time dosing. Recognising that the therapeutic delivery of the active agent plays a critical role in the overall success of therapy, and attempting to circumvent the weaknesses of traditional vaginal drug delivery while maintaining and even improving safety profiles, a new form of vaginal drug delivery was developed. This unique and proprietary delivery system, with both bioadhesive and sustained release properties, introduces the convenience of a single dose of medication that can be applied at any time, with efficacy rates equivalent to lengthier durations of treatment. This advance in science and technology has now been successfully applied to two products, Gynazole-1® (butoconazole nitrate 2%) and Clindesse™ (clindamycin phosphate 2%) indicated for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis, respectively, in order to enhance convenience and compliance for the treatment of two very common clinical conditions.