Abstract: It is intended to provide a low molecular weight adjuvant which can be administered safely without inducing skin irritation or the like by transdermal or transmucosal administration and is for enhancing immunogenicity of an antigen efficiently. It can be achieved by an immunostimulant adjuvant containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of aliphatic alcohols, free fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives but does not contain a substance represented by the following formula. (In the formula, R3 and R4 may be combined to form a cyclic ring, and R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl side chain having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: There is provided an inexpensive microneedle device for diagnosis of an allergy, enabling one to perform a clear skin test with simple operation for a short period of time in the diagnosis of allergies. The microneedle device (1) comprises: a microneedle substrate (2), microneedles (3) formed on the substrate at a density of 100 to 10000 needles per 1 cm2, being capable of piercing the skin 50 ?m to 500 ?m deep, and allergen-holding means (4) formed on the microneedles, holding at least one allergen. The microneedles (3) can be prepared by the use of a non-metallic synthetic or natural resin material.

Abstract: An adjuvant for transdermal or transmucosal administration which comprises at least one substance selected from an aliphatic alcohol, a free fatty acid and a fatty acid derivative but does not contain a substance represented by the following formula: wherein R3 and R4 may together form a cyclic ring, and R1 and R2 independently represent an alkyl side chain having 1 to 16 carbon atoms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microneedle device having a coating, which is effective even with a low molecular weight active compound and can sustain the effect of the drug for a long period of time, and a transdermal drug administration apparatus with microneedles. The microneedle device (5) has, on a microneedle substrate (8), a plurality of microneedles (6) that can pierce the skin, wherein the surface of the microneedles (6) and/or the microneedle substrate (8) is partly or entirely coated in fixed state with a coating carrier containing polyvinyl alcohol. The polyvinyl alcohol preferably has a hydrolysis degree of 94.5 mol % or more. Furthermore, the coating carrier can contain a drug.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a transdermal drug administration apparatus having microneedles, which is capable of piercing the skin by a simple procedure in the transdermal administration of a biologically active substance (drug) and allows rapid absorption of the biologically active substance. The present apparatus comprises a microneedle device (50) comprising a microneedle substrate (53) having a plurality of microneedles (51) capable of piercing the skin, an absorbent (11) disposed thereon, the absorbent (11) comprising a material capable of absorbing a liquid, and a dissolving solution reservoir (18) disposed on the absorbent (11), the dissolving solution reservoir (18) containing a dissolving solution (16) for dissolving a drug and being capable of disrupting a diaphragm (20) provided the dissolving solution reservoir (18) and the absorbent (11) by pressing. A coating containing a dry drug is disposed on the microneedles (51) and/or the microneedle substrate (53).

Abstract: A transdermal preparation for external use which contains a photosensitive NSAID and a UV blocker having a high ability to migrate into the skin. Thus, it becomes possible to ensure, in a transdermal preparation for external use containing a NSAID, the inhibition of the onset of light-induced non-immunological or immunological skin symptoms by the above-described component.

Abstract: An external preparation for percutaneous administration which contains a light-sensitive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic and a UVA-shielding agent which inhibits the analgesic to cause light toxicity and a light allergy. This external preparation for percutaneous administration, which contains a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic, can be prevented, with higher certainty, from causing the hypersensitivity to light attributable to light toxicity and a light allergy.

Abstract: A novel nucleic acid carrier and a pharmaceutical composition for gene therapy are disclosed. The nucleic acid carrier of this invention is characterized by containing a polypeptide comprising diaminobutyric acid with a suitable number of residues and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The nucleic acid carrier of this invention can form a complex with a variety of therapeutic genes that is safe and has extremely low immunogenicity (the pharmaceutical composition of this invention); and it can allow the therapeutic gene to be introduced into cells efficiently and safely whereby high expression of the gene in the cells can be realized.