Transdermal drug delivery company Cygnus TherapeuticSystems announced that it has filed an investigational newdrug (IND) application with the FDA for a new family of itsnicotine transdermal systems.

The Redwood City, Calif., company has designed its newestpatches in multiple-dose strengths, which it claims willenhance the patient's chances of becoming smoke-free. Cygnus(NASDAQ:CYGN) intends to conduct the clinical trials withoutthe participation of a pharmaceutical partner.

Cygnus is already marketing Nicotrol, a nicotine patch thatdelivers nicotine only during waking hours to avoid thepotential side effects (insomnia, nightmares and headaches)associated with 24-hour delivery. Nicotrol is marketed by theParke-Davis division of Warner-Lambert.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.