ArrayPatch

ArrayPatch Ltd. is a preclinical spin-out from University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland, established in March 2024 to commercialize its patented DerMap™ microneedle drug delivery technology. The company was founded by Dr. Waleed Faisal, who co-invented the technology with Professor Abina Crean of UCC's School of Pharmacy. The core idea for the technology originated in 2018 during a Marie Sklodowska Curie Career-FIT project. Dr. Faisal is joined by a management team with experience in manufacturing, regulatory approval, and product launches, including Dr. Tord Labuda (CSO), Ryan Bamsey (COO), and Darren Cunningham (CFO).

ArrayPatch is focused on the dermatological market, developing patch formulations for generic drugs. Its core product, the DerMap™ platform, is a pain-free, dissolvable microneedle patch designed for transdermal drug delivery. The technology's key feature is its ability to create microneedles composed almost entirely of the drug itself, allowing for high-dose delivery directly under the skin as the needles dissolve. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of traditional drug delivery methods by offering a minimally invasive, localized treatment with potentially fewer side effects.

The company's first product, ITZ-DerMap™, is being developed for the treatment of onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), targeting a global market estimated to exceed $6 billion. ArrayPatch's development pipeline also includes potential applications for skin cancer, psoriasis, hormone replacement therapy, and migraines. The company operates on a pre-revenue, preclinical business model, focusing on securing funding to advance its products through clinical trials. It has received over €1.3 million in non-dilutive funding, including from Enterprise Ireland, and is raising a €3 million seed round to advance its lead product to clinical proof-of-concept. ArrayPatch plans to market products under its own brand label and partner with established distributors, with a projected first product launch in 2028/29.

Keywords: microneedle patch, transdermal drug delivery, dermatology, onychomycosis, DerMap technology, dissolvable microneedles, pharmaceutical manufacturing, preclinical startup, fungal nail infection, skin cancer treatment, psoriasis treatment, hormone replacement therapy, drug delivery platform, University College Cork spin-out, medtech, biotech, high drug-loading, localized treatment, pain-free drug delivery, generic drug formulation