A device (12) and method are provided for percutaneous transdermal
delivery of a potent pharmacologically active agent. The agent is
dissolved in water to form an aqueous coating solution having an
appropriate viscosity for coating extremely tiny skin piercing elements
(10). The coating solution is applied to the skin piercing elements (10)
using known coating techniques and then dried. The device (12) is applied
to the skin of a living animal (e.g., a human), causing the
microprotrusions (10) to pierce the stratum corneum and deliver a
therapeutically effect dose of the agent to the animal.