Altea

Altea Therapeutics was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of needle-free, transdermal delivery systems for large molecule biologics and highly potent small molecules. The company's proprietary PassPort platform utilized focused thermal energy to create microscopic channels in the skin, enabling the delivery of drugs that typically require injection or infusion. Its lead programs included transdermal basal insulin and a transdermal GLP-1 receptor agonist (exenatide) for the treatment of diabetes, as well as a transdermal fentanyl patch for pain management. Despite establishing high-profile partnerships with Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, the company ceased operations in late 2011 due to capital constraints. Its intellectual property and assets were subsequently acquired by Nitto Denko in 2012.