Unigene Awarded U.S. Patent for Oral Delivery of Osteoporosis Product
PR Newswire - June 21, 1999 15:46
FAIRFIELD, N.J., June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Unigene Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: UGNE) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent covering the Company's technology for oral delivery of calcitonin for the treatment of osteoporosis and other disorders. Unigene and the Warner-Lambert Company are using this technology to jointly develop the first oral calcitonin product. Last month, Warner-Lambert stated that an orally delivered, cost-effective calcitonin drug could become the treatment of choice for osteoporosis, and they conservatively estimated annual sales approaching $500 million.
Patent #5,912,014, which describes this novel composition of matter, is scheduled to expire in 2016. The Company has filed additional patent applications describing the use of this invention to orally deliver other peptide hormones that will extend the duration of protection for the technology and significantly expand the scope of its coverage.
"Combined with the 1998 issuance of a broad patent covering our calcitonin manufacturing technology, we have created a formidable proprietary position for our oral product", said Warren P. Levy, Ph.D., President of Unigene. "The protection afforded by these product and technology patents greatly exceeds the protection afforded by either alone."
A unique feature of the Company's oral delivery technology is its ability to routinely produce measurable blood levels of calcitonin in tested subjects, a property that is expected to facilitate the regulatory approval process.
Unigene Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research, production and delivery of valuable therapeutic peptide hormones. The Company has developed and patented manufacturing technology for producing amidated peptides cost-effectively and in quantities sufficient to support the worldwide commercialization of peptide therapeutics for oral delivery. The Company has also developed novel drug delivery technology that has been shown to deliver therapeutic levels of the amidated peptide calcitonin into the bloodstream. Unigene's first commercial products will be different formulations of calcitonin. The Company has recently received approval to market its injectable calcitonin product FORCALTONIN(TM) in the European Union.
Except for historical information, the statements made herein are forward looking statements involving risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties, including those related to the timing or successful completion of the Company's product commercialization activities, are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Unigene Laboratories, Inc.
/CONTACT: Ronald S. Levy, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Unigene
Laboratories, Inc., 973-882-0860; or Theresa McNeely, Director of Feinstein
Kean Partners Inc., 617-577-8110, for Unigene Laboratories, Inc./
/Web site: unigene.com
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