SAN DIEGO, Dec. 8, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apricus Biosciences, Inc. ("Apricus Bio" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:APRI) announced today that the Japanese Patent Office has issued an official decision to allow Japanese patent application entitled, "Crystalline Salts of Dodecyl 2-(N,N-Dimethylamino)-Propionate." The patent will cover compositions and methods related to crystalline salts contained in the Company's NexACT® permeation enhancer technology used in topical drug delivery. The salts provide NexACT® with an important range of physio-chemical characteristics with various potential advantages versus other drug delivery technologies including, improved compatability, water solubility and permeation profiles. This patent, when issued, will provide Japanese patent protection to May 2020, and will be the 15th patent granted for these salts worldwide with four applications pending in this patent family.