CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., Oct. 1, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:EMIS) today announced the publication of a study assessing the oral delivery of GLP-1 and PYY3-36 using Emisphere's proprietary delivery technology. The study showed, for the first time, that satiety peptides such as GLP-1 and PYY3-36 can be delivered orally in humans with safety and efficiency. This independent study was conducted at University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland by Christoph Beglinger, M.D., of the Clinical Research Center, Department of Biomedicine Division of Gastroenterology, and Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the hospital, and the study results were published in the October 2008 issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
The study, conducted in 12 healthy subjects, was designed to establish the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of increasing oral doses of GLP-1 and PYY3-36. Emisphere's delivery agent, known as SNAC, was formulated as a tablet with GLP-1 or PYY3-36. The results reveal that both oral GLP-1 and PYY3-36 induce rapid and dose-dependent increases in plasma drug concentrations; that GLP-1 induces a relevant insulin release; and, both peptides suppressed ghrelin secretion in healthy male volunteers. This clinical study of the compound confirms Professor Beglinger's earlier results that SNAC allows for rapid oral absorption of GLP-1 or PYY3-36.
"Injection of GLP-1 is a bothersome and impractical application for chronic treatment regimens," said Professor Beglinger. "The current evidence supports the potential of this oral approach for delivering peptides safely and effectively without changing the drugs, damaging epithelial membranes or creating new toxicities."
"It is our hope that GLP-1 used with Eligen(r) will improve the healthcare for people with Type 2 diabetes," said Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere. "The study also further illustrates the potential application of Emisphere's Eligen(r) Technology as a solution in drug development."
Emisphere's Eligen(r) Technology is based on the development of small organic molecules, termed delivery agents, or carriers, that interact non-covalently with macromolecules to enable their oral absorption. GLP-1 is rapidly absorbed after oral administration with SNAC. Emisphere announced in June 2008 that it entered into a Development and License Agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S on the development of oral formulations of Novo Nordisk's proprietary GLP-1 receptor agonists.
About Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules using its Eligen(r) Technology. These molecules and compounds could be currently available or in development. Such molecules are usually delivered by injection; in many cases, their benefits are limited due to poor bioavailability, slow on-set of action or variable absorption. The Eligen(r) Technology can be applied to the oral route of administration as well as other delivery pathways, such as buccal, rectal, inhalation, intra-vaginal or transdermal. The company's website is: www.emisphere.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements
The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of Emisphere relating to matters that are not historical facts (including without limitation those regarding the timing or potential outcomes of research collaborations or clinical trials, any market that might develop for any of Emisphere's product candidates and the sufficiency of Emisphere's cash and other capital resources) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that future research will prove successful, the likelihood that any product in the research pipeline will receive regulatory approval in the United States or abroad, the ability of Emisphere and/or its partners to develop, manufacture and commercialize products using Emisphere's drug delivery technology, Emisphere's ability to fund such efforts with or without partners, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Emisphere's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Emisphere's Annual Report on Form 10-K (file no. 1-10615) filed on March 13, 2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, filed on August 11, 2008.