To: terri acey who wrote (345 ) 3/9/2000 1:14:00 PM From: terri acey Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 347
More News!!! Unigene to Receive Broad U.S. Patent Protection for Oral Deliveryof Any Peptide Pharmaceutical FAIRFIELD, N.J., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Unigene Laboratories, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: UGNE) today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its patent application claiming the use of its oral delivery technology with any peptide pharmaceutical product. The U.S. patent is expected to issue in due course. The patent will broadly extend the protection afforded by Unigene's first oral delivery patent, which issued in June 1999 and specifically covered the delivery of the salmon calcitonin peptide. "We have known for a long time that our core technologies could be used to produce and orally deliver many different therapeutic peptides", noted Dr. Ronald S. Levy, Executive Vice President. "The Patent Office has now recognized the exclusivity and the broad utility of both of these inventions. This will have tremendous value to us as we expand our product pipeline." Unigene Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research, production and delivery of valuable therapeutic peptide hormones. The Company has launched its injectable calcitonin product in the European Union and is presently conducting clinical studies in the U.S. for its nasal calcitonin product. The Company has patented manufacturing technology for producing amidated peptides cost-effectively and in quantities sufficient to support the worldwide commercialization of peptide therapeutics for oral delivery. In 1996, the Company first demonstrated the delivery of therapeutic levels of calcitonin to the bloodstream of human subjects following oral administration, using its patented oral drug delivery technology. 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. CO: Unigene Laboratories, Inc. ST: New Jersey IN: MTC SU: 03/09/2000 08:00 EST prnewswire.com