AQST-108

AQST-108 is a novel drug candidate developed by Aquestive Therapeutics. It is a prodrug of dipivefrin formulated for two main delivery modalities: - As an oral sublingual film designed to deliver systemic epinephrine for the treatment of allergic reactions (Type 1), including anaphylaxis. This formulation uses Aquestive’s proprietary PharmFilm technology and aims to provide a needle-free, easy-to-administer alternative to injectable epinephrine[1][5][7]. - As a topically delivered adrenergic agonist gel under development for the treatment of alopecia areata. The topical gel formulation is intended to support immune privilege in hair follicles and potentially treat mild-to-moderate alopecia areata without the systemic side effects associated with current therapies such as JAK inhibitors[6][8][9][10]. The mechanism of action involves adrenergic receptor agonism, specifically targeting alpha-1 and beta adrenergic receptors through its conversion into active epinephrine or related catecholamines after administration[3][4]. Clinical trials have shown that both formulations are well-tolerated with no serious adverse events reported in early studies.

Other names

dipivefrin prodrug