IRVING, Texas, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carrington Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the Company has received the Certificate of Patent from the Korean Intellectual Property Office for the issued Korean Patent No. 587423 titled "Aloe Pectins" relating to the Company's proprietary GelSite(R) polymer technology. DelSite Biotechnologies, Inc., Carrington's wholly-owned subsidiary, is developing and commercializing GelSite(R) polymer as a controlled-release drug delivery technology for therapeutics and vaccine products.
The issued patent describes the basic composition and process of manufacturing novel pectins from Aloe vera L. The claims of this patent are broadly applicable to any use of DelSite's aloe pectins and extend to use in pharmaceutical compositions including proteins, peptides, vaccine antigens and other pharmacological substances.
"DelSite continues to build a strong intellectual property estate around our proprietary drug and vaccine delivery technologies worldwide, and we are pleased to receive the Korean patent for GelSite(R) polymer," said Dr. Yawei Ni, senior scientist at DelSite Biotechnologies. "GelSite(R) polymer has unique functional properties such as in situ gelation and the ability to stabilize many proteins; these properties make it an attractive basis for novel drug delivery systems, including the GelVac(TM) nasal powder vaccine delivery system."
DelSite's leading delivery platform, the GelVac(TM) nasal powder vaccine delivery system, is a simple and broad vaccine delivery platform suitable for many different classes of vaccine antigens. GelVac(TM) is currently being evaluated as a delivery system for H5N1 pandemic influenza vaccine and is partially supported by a NIH/NIAID Challenge Grant.
About GelSite(R) and GelVac(TM)
GelSite(R) polymer is a naturally sourced, high-molecular-weight anionic polysaccharide that exhibits distinct chemical and functional properties proprietary to the Company. GelSite(R) is water-based and is capable of in situ gelation, i.e., changing either a solid or liquid formulation into a gel upon contact with body fluids that leads to controlled-release of active biomolecules. GelSite(R) is not an adjuvant and is a member of a family of plant polysaccharides classified by the FDA as Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS). The polymer is currently manufactured to cGMP standards at Carrington Laboratories wholly owned subsidiary, Sabila Industrial, SA.
The GelVac(TM) system is a nasal powder vaccine delivery platform based on GelSite(R) polymer. Dry powder formulations delivered nasally provide several potential advantages, including better stability, room temperature storage, no need for preservatives, no need for needles and muco-adhesiveness. Nasal immunization induces both systemic and mucosal immune responses. The GelVac(TM) delivery system increases antigen nasal residence time, providing for prolonged contact with the mucosal surface which may improve immune response for many different classes of antigens.
About DelSite
Carrington's wholly-owned subsidiary DelSite Biotechnologies, Inc. is developing its proprietary GelSite(R) technology designed to provide controlled release of peptide and protein-based drugs. DelSite is currently developing a nasal powder vaccine using its GelVac. formula with the H5N1 avian flu antigen. This work is partially funded by two grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, visit http://www.delsite.com .
About Carrington
Carrington Laboratories, Inc., is an ISO 9001-certified, research-based, biopharmaceutical and consumer products company currently utilizing naturally- occurring complex carbohydrates to manufacture and market products for mucositis, radiation dermatitis, wound and oral care, as well as to manufacture and market the nutraceutical raw material Manapol(R) and cosmetic raw material Hydrapol(TM). Carrington also manufactures and markets consumer products and manufactures quality products for other companies. Manufacturing operations comply with cGMP standards. Carrington raw materials from Aloe vera L. are the only raw materials from the plant with the DSHEA claim of enhancing the immune system.
Carrington and DelSite technologies are protected by more than 130 patents in 26 countries. Select products carry the CE mark, recognized worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.carringtonlabs.com .
Certain statements in this release concerning Carrington may be forward- looking. Actual events will be dependent upon a number of factors and risks including, but not limited to: subsequent changes in plans by the Company's management; delays or problems in formulation, manufacturing, distribution, production and/or launch of new finished products; changes in the regulatory process; changes in market trends; and a number of other factors and risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-Q, filed November 14, 2006.
Carrington Laboratories, Inc.CONTACT: Dr. Yawei Ni, Senior Scientist of Carrington Laboratories, Inc.,+1-972-717-5009
