Transdermal drug delivery has come a long way since the first patch for seasickness. In a drug delivery device industry on track to reach almost $23 billion by the year 2011 (according to "US Markets for Drug and Fluid Delivery Devices," published in October 2007 by Windhover Information's Medtech Insight division) the transdermal sector will grow at a faster rate than injection or inhalation drug delivery systems. Transdermal delivery technologies will grow at a compound annual rate of more than 11% over the next four years, building up to sales of $3.5 billion in the year 2011.

In December, a California federal court ordered the US Environmental Protection Agency to amend its TSCA Chemical Data Reporting rule to address asbestos information-gathering “loopholes,” including a current exemption for asbestos that occurs as an impurity in raw materials such as cosmetic talc.

L'Aquila, Italy-based Dante Laboratories company announced a £30m investment in global surveillance of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. CEO Andrea Riposat discussed the purchase.