US  20030124176Al  Correspondence Address:  REED & ASSOCIATES  800 MENLO AVENUE  SUITE 210  MENLO PARK, CA 94025 (US)  of application No. 09/738,410, filed on Dec. 14, 2000,  which is a continuation-in-part of application No.  09/569,889, filed on May 11, 2000, which is a con› tinuation-in-part of application No. 09/465,098, filed  on Dec. 16, 1999, now abandoned, and which is a  continuation-in-part of application No. 09/738,395,  filed on Dec. 14, 2000, which is a continuation of  application No. 09/607,892, filed on Jun. 30, 2000,  now abandoned.  Methods are provided for enhancing the permeability of skin  or mucosal tissue to topical or transdermal application of  pharmacologically or cosmeceutically active agents. The  methods entail the use of a base in order to increase the flux  of the active agent through a body surface while minimizing  the likelihood of skin damage, irritation or sensitization. The  permeation enhancer can be an inorganic or organic base.  Compositions and transdermal systems are also described.  (19)  United States  (12)  Patent Application Publication  Hsu et al.  (54)  TRANSDERMALAND TOPICAL  ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS USING  BASIC PERMEATION ENHANCERS  (10)  Pub. No.: US 2003/0124176 Al  (43)  Pub. Date:  Jul. 3, 2003  (76)  Inventors:  Tsung-Min Hsu,  San Diego, CA (US);  Nicole T. Gricenko,  San Diego, CA  (US);  Alan T.J. Hickey,  San Diego, CA  (US);  Eric C. Jacobson,  San Diego,  CA (US);  Rose C. LoBello,  San Diego,  CA (US);  Jane Ohara,  San Diego, CA  (US);  Eric C. Luo,  Plano, TX (US)  (21)  Appl. No.:  10/176,952  (22)  Filed:  Jun.21,2002  (63)  Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/972,008,  filed on Oct. 4, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part  (51)  Int. Cl.7  .......................................................  A61K 9/70  (52)  U.S. Cl.  ..............................................................  424/449  (57)  ABSTRACT  Publication Classification  Related U.S. Application Data 