# 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. - **Patent:** US 7387788 - **Original title:** Pharmaceutical compositions of nicotine and methods of use thereof - **Owner:** Antares Pharma IPL AG - **Granted:** 2008 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 25 - **Field:** pharmaceutical, biotech ## What it does 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. ## 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 ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Nicotine replacement therapy gels 2. Transdermal nicotine delivery systems 3. Mucosal nicotine absorption products ## Why it matters 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. ## 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 **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7387788/soliris-eculizumab **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US7387788 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Make Hard-to-Absorb Medicines Easier for the Body to Use](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5002952/duragesic-fentanyl-patch) — A method for mixing specific chemical compounds with surfactants to help the body absorb them more effectively. - [How Special Sugars Make Medicines Dissolve Better](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4727064/azt-zidovudine) — This patent describes how to make poorly water-soluble drugs dissolve and absorb better by mixing them with specially modified, non-crystalline sugar molecules called cyclodextrin derivatives. - [How to Keep High-Concentration Antibody Medicines Stable in Liquid Form](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7740842/herceptin-adjuvant-therapy) — Novartis's patent describes a specific liquid recipe for keeping high concentrations of E25 anti-IgE antibodies stable and usable for medical injections. - [How to Make Pill Coatings That Keep Medicine Stable Over Time](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5639476/nicoderm-nicotine-patch) — A method for coating pills with a specific plasticized acrylic polymer that ensures the medicine releases at a steady, predictable rate, even after sitting on a shelf for months. - [How to Make Clear, Waterproof Sunscreen That Doesn't Feel Greasy](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4810490/tpa-tissue-plasminogen-activator) — A 1989 patent for a transparent, water-resistant sunscreen formula that uses wood rosin to create a non-sticky, long-lasting protective film on the skin.