Columbia Laboratories Inc.

"You need about 1,000 times more progesterone than estrogen and it doesn't pass through the skin as easily," said William J. Bologna, chairman of Columbia Laboratories, a Miami-based research company.

Mr. Bologna and Howard L. Levine, a clinical pharmacologist and vice president of research at Columbia Laboratories, received patent 5,543,150.

Nick Buoniconti, former All-Pro linebacker with the Miami Dolphins, was president of the U.S. Tobacco company and now is vice chairman of Columbia Laboratories, a drug research company.