DESCRIPTION

We're looking for a gel, cream, emulsion, or similar base that can serve as a topical delivery platform for consumer medication to treat joint pain such as that associated with osteoarthritis or aging joints. Your proposed solution must promote deep penetration of the pain-relieving active beneath the skin, and deliver strong efficacy.

BACKGROUND
The joint pain from osteoarthritis affects, knees, elbows, hips, fingers, wrists, ankles, and knuckles.
Typically, actives dealing with joint pain don't deliver pain relief immediately; their effect builds over several applications. Thus, a new delivery platform may help us deliver pain relief more quickly by penetrating more deeply.
We are interested in a new topical delivery platform to treat joint pain as distinct from sports creams for muscular aches and pains. However, if your sports cream also treats joint pain -- and especially if it is already in commercial use -- we may be interested.
Your testing and scientific data are very important to us, as are samples.

CONSTRAINTS
This TechNeed is not a search for new actives, but we would consider your new active if it has the potential to be sold as non-prescription. We require:
o High efficacy -- truly outstanding performance in delivering the active to the site of the pain.
o Scientifically proven, superior-performing product -- offering a route to greater pain relief; faster pain relief; fewer doses/lower doses per day (because of increased efficacy); and deeper penetration underneath the skin, leading to greater efficacy.
o Reasonable aesthetic -- odor-free; pleasant to the skin; non-sticky; non-staining (a cooling or warming feeling would be acceptable).
o Must have in-vitro test data at a minimum. Clinical proof-of-principle and a toxicity assessment are highly desireable.
o Stable shelf-life of 2-3 years preferred.
o Safe, affordable, non-irritating.

We are not interested in:
o Terpenes such as menthol.
o Ingredient such as methyl salicylates, camphor or eucalyptus oil .

POSSIBLE SOLUTION AREAS
Cosmetic products with deeper penetration and good market aesthetics (good skin feel, no odor, non-sticky, non-staining).
Regional medical markets.
Topical applications that demonstrate deep penetration beneath the skin.
Veterinary products.