A drug-delivery system is described which can serve as a platform for the topical delivery of a wide variety of therapeutic agents to the skin. Specifically, a topical external analgesic gel contains ketoprofen, a skin penetration enhancer/cosolvent, a thickening agent and a base to adjust pH. The formulation uses a relatively small number of safe components and is easy to prepare with a high yield of finished product. The chemical stability of ketoprofen in the gel and the physical stability of the gel itself ensure a satisfactory shelf-life for the product. The gel is aesthetically pleasing (i.e., easy water-washability, non-irritating to skin, non-staining of clothing, etc.) and has proven to provide rapid relief of musculoskeletal pain, thereby helping to ensure patient compliance.
