Irish Collaboration aims to progress novel intradermal therapy towards clinical trials

Dr Waleed Faisal, ArrayPatch and Professor Abina Crean, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork and Rinn Pharma & Biopharma investigator

[Ireland, Tuesday, July 28] – Rinn Pharma & Biopharma, Ireland’s national centre for Research & Innovation in Making Medicines, has announced a new collaboration with ArrayPatch Ltd. ArrayPatch, a biotech spin-out, originated from SSPC Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals research conducted at University College Cork (UCC) and support from Enterprise Irelands funding and commercialisation programmes.

Led by ArrayPatch founder Dr Waleed Faisal and UCC Professor Abina Crean, the project will focus on developing a novel skin cancer treatment using a patented dissolvable microneedle platform, DerMap. The technology is being advanced across a growing pipeline, including applications in metabolic disorders, weight loss and nail fungal infections.

Unlike traditional creams, which often fail to penetrate effectively, or oral treatments that require high doses and can cause side effects, microneedles create tiny, painless pathways that enable targeted, efficient drug delivery directly at the site of disease. By delivering treatment locally, the novel treatment “DerMap‑V” has the potential to improve effectiveness while minimising side effects. The project is advancing the prototype through preclinical studies to support progression to streamlined Phase 1/3 clinical trials to confirm safety and effectiveness.

Welcoming the collaboration, Dr Waleed Faisal, Founder of ArrayPatch Ltd., said:
“This collaboration with Rinn Pharma & Biopharma represents a major step forward for ArrayPatch. DerMap‑V has the potential to address a long-standing unmet need in dermatology by enabling targeted, localised drug delivery directly into the skin. Working with Rinn Pharma & Biopharma allows us to rigorously characterise the technology and accelerate its progression towards clinical evaluation.”

Having progressed from a postdoctoral researcher within SSPC Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals to founder and leader of ArrayPatch, Dr Faisal’s journey reflects the strength of Ireland’s research and innovation ecosystem, combining scientific excellence with a clear clinical and commercial development strategy, and positioning the company strongly within the growing intradermal drug delivery market.

 Dr Siobhan Roche, Director, Research for the Economy said: 
“This collaboration between Rinn Pharma & Biopharma and ArrayPatch highlights the important role that Irish research and innovation play in supporting the growth of indigenous companies. Through engagement with Research Ireland-funded research centres, start-ups and SMEs gain access to leading expertise, advanced infrastructure, and collaborative networks that can help de-risk innovation and accelerate commercial success. We are delighted to see this partnership contributing to Ireland’s continued leadership in the biopharmaceutical sector.”

Professor Abina Crean, lead academic collaborator at UCC, commented:
“The company’s evolution from university-based research to an industry-focused biotech enterprise demonstrates how technologies can successfully translate into patient-focused solutions through strategic partnerships. This collaboration reflects growing confidence in the scientific robustness and translational potential of the technology, and provides access to world-class expertise in pharmaceutical characterisation, preclinical development, and clinical readiness.”

Prof. Damien Thompson, Scientific Director, Rinn Pharma & Biopharma, added:
“Supporting the translation of innovative research into real-world impact is central to Rinn Pharma & Biopharma’s mission. Our partnership with ArrayPatch and UCC highlights how collaboration between academic researchers and emerging Irish biotech companies can accelerate the development of novel therapies with the potential to improve patient outcomes.”

ArrayPatch recently expanded its platform through the acquisition of Vitropep’s peptide delivery IP and expertise, strengthening its position in the growing peptide therapeutics market. The acquisition complements its proprietary DerMap® dissolving, polymer-free microneedle technology, designed for high drug loading and scalable manufacturing.

-ENDS –

For further information contact Louise O’Neill 087 9308585 / [email protected]

About Rinn Pharma & Biopharma

Rinn Pharma & Biopharma is part of the Research Ireland funded Rinn Network (rinn-network.ie). Rinn empowers radical collaboration that operates across multiple research bodies in partnership with industry, government and wider stakeholders to create a unique research and innovation ecosystem of international significance and scale. Hosted at the University of Limerick, Rinn Pharma & BioPharma is a transdisciplinary research centre focused on two key challenges in drug development: creating patient-centred medicines for diverse populations and embedding sustainability across all stages of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. The centre brings together expertise, talent, and industry collaboration to address these critical needs through the host institute and 11 additional RPO partners across Ireland, including UCC.

About ArrayPatch Ltd. 
ArrayPatch is a biotech company based in Cork, Ireland, developing next-generation microneedle-based therapeutics. Its DerMap™ platform harnesses polymer-free dissolving microneedles to deliver therapeutic agents directly to target tissues in a painless and efficient manner. The company’s current lead program, GLP-DerMap™, is designed to deliver  GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity and type 2 diabetes, with additional applications under development for skin cancer and nail fungal infections. ArrayPatch was spun out from University College Cork and has secured significant non-dilutive funding, investment and industry recognition to support its development strategy. For more information, please visit www.array-patch.com