The World's First Ibuprofen Patch Is Here — and It's Amazing

British researchers at the University of Warwick, in conjunction with transdermal drug manufacturer Medherant, have created the first-ever ibuprofen patch that releases a consistent dose of the drug to any localized region of the body — possibly making pills a thing of the past.

While pain-relief patches already exist in the commercial market, this new patch transmits the dose at a more controlled rate over a prolonged 12-hour period. It will also be particularly useful for those suffering with chronic back pain, arthritis, and neuralgia (severe pain caused by a damaged nerve).

"Our technology now means that we can for the first time produce patches that contain effective doses of active ingredients such as ibuprofen for which no patches currently exist," said David Haddleton, a research chemist who worked on the patch, in a press release for the University of Warwick. "Also, we can improve the drug loading and stickiness of patches containing other active ingredients to improve patient comfort and outcome."

While the patch is still in its test phase, Medherant CEO Nigel Davis said you can expect it to be on the market in two years.