A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, Transdermal Drug Delivery: More Than Skin Deep, features profiles of AllTranz, Ocelus, Quinnova and Syntropharma. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Apnex Medical, Cellular Dynamics, Helix Therapeutics, Presym and Vatrix Medical.

Start-ups continue to seize opportunities for delivering new and existing drugs transdermally. They are also poised to capitalize on next-generation technologies for delivering macromolecules through the skin. In this issue, we profile AllTranz, Ocelus, Quinnova Pharmaceuticals and Syntropharma.

Syntropharma Ltd. aims to take known drugs that can be improved via transdermal delivery, or gain product life-extension through reformulation in the novel delivery mechanism. The company is focusing on two candidates: a transdermal selegiline patch for depression (aimed at the European market) and a patch formulation of naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist for battling dependence on alcohol and opiates.