A Gel That Helps Nicotine Absorb Through Your Skin
A specialized gel formula designed to help nicotine pass through the skin or mouth lining without crystallizing or rubbing off on clothes.
Original patent title: “Pharmaceutical compositions of nicotine and methods of use thereof”
A specialized gel formula designed to help nicotine pass through the skin or mouth lining without crystallizing or rubbing off on clothes. Granted to Antares Pharma IPL AG in 2008 with 35 claims and 25 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a gel that delivers nicotine through the skin or mucosal surfaces. It uses a specific solvent system containing a mixture of water, alcohol, a monoalkyl ether of diethylene glycol, and a glycol. By keeping these ingredients in precise ratios, the gel prevents the nicotine from crystallizing on the skin surface, which helps it absorb more effectively. It also reduces the chance of the medicine rubbing off onto clothing or other people.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover solid nicotine patches that use an adhesive backing to stay on the skin
- Does not cover nicotine delivery systems that rely on inhalation or combustion
- Does not cover formulations that lack the specific ratio of diethylene glycol ether to glycol
- Does not cover occlusive delivery systems that seal the skin off from the air
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the specific solvent ratio that balances skin penetration with the physical stability of the gel, preventing the drug from turning into solid crystals on the skin surface.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Nicotine replacement therapy gels
Transdermal nicotine delivery systems
Mucosal nicotine absorption products
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Transdermal delivery is a key method for smoking cessation therapy. By improving how nicotine moves through the skin, this technology aims to make nicotine replacement therapy more consistent and less messy than traditional patches or gums. It represents an effort to refine drug delivery for better patient compliance.
Filed
July 24, 2006
Granted
June 17, 2008
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology was assigned to Antares Pharma, which focuses on drug delivery systems. Other companies in the nicotine replacement space, such as those producing patches and oral films, continue to refine these chemical delivery vehicles to improve absorption rates.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the development of more sophisticated topical drug delivery options for nicotine. It helped define the chemical requirements for non-occlusive gels, providing a blueprint for manufacturers to create products that are easier for patients to use compared to traditional adhesive patches.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a gel that delivers nicotine through the skin or mucosal surfaces. It uses a specific solvent system containing a mixture of water, alcohol, a monoalkyl ether of diethylene glycol, and a glycol. By keeping these ingredients in precise ratios, the gel prevents the nicotine from crystallizing on the skin surface, which helps it absorb more effectively. It also reduces the chance of the medicine rubbing off onto clothing or other people.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the specific solvent ratio that balances skin penetration with the physical stability of the gel, preventing the drug from turning into solid crystals on the skin surface.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover solid nicotine patches that use an adhesive backing to stay on the skin
- Does not cover nicotine delivery systems that rely on inhalation or combustion
- Does not cover formulations that lack the specific ratio of diethylene glycol ether to glycol
- Does not cover occlusive delivery systems that seal the skin off from the air
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$81K – $259K
Midpoint $162K · expired or expiring · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
35 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Grenier, A., Carrara, R. D. N., & Besse, C. (2008). A Gel That Helps Nicotine Absorb Through Your Skin (U.S. Patent No. 7,387,788). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7387788/soliris-eculizumab
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Gel That Helps Nicotine Absorb Through Your Skin cover?
A specialized gel formula designed to help nicotine pass through the skin or mouth lining without crystallizing or rubbing off on clothes.
Who owns patent US 7387788?
Antares Pharma IPL AG owns this patent, granted in 2008.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 17, 2028, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7387788 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Transdermal delivery is a key method for smoking cessation therapy. By improving how nicotine moves through the skin, this technology aims to make nicotine replacement therapy more consistent and less messy than traditional patches or gums. It represents an effort to refine drug delivery for better patient compliance.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover solid nicotine patches that use an adhesive backing to stay on the skin
Patent monitoring