Google and Novartis have become the latest firms to help fund the early
stage development of a new 'robotic pill' that could change the face of drug
administration.
Both
companies will inject an undisclosed amount of cash to help Rani Therapeutics
develop a new drug delivery system for complex biological drugs that would
normally have to be given by injection.
Rani
said it would run feasibility studies over the next two years to assess how
certain biologic medicines from Novartis can
be delivered into the bloodstream using its device.
The
Rani capsule, which is swallowed like a conventional pill, contains tiny
needles made of sugar that are pushed into the wall of the intestine to deliver
the drug.