6th country to grant patent for WaferiXTM technology
Singapore, 30 November 2015 – Homegrown specialty pharmaceutical company iX Biopharma Ltd. (“iX Biopharma” or, together with its subsidiaries, “the Group”) is pleased to announce that it has been granted a patent in Indonesia (no. IDP000036973) for its WaferiXTM drug delivery technology. The patent will expire on 26 October 2030.
Indonesia is the sixth country to grant iX Biopharma a patent for WaferiXTM. The Group was recently granted its Japanese patent in September 2015, while counterpart patents have already been granted in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. Pending applications are currently under examination in major markets including the US, Europe, China, India, Canada, South Korea, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
The claims of the patent cover a fast-dissolving oral dosage form for the release of a biologically active material in the oral cavity, and provide strategic coverage for iX Biopharma’s WaferiXTM technology in Indonesia. According to the claims of the patent, the particular dosage form may contain and deliver a wide range of biologically active materials and is not limited to a specific biologically active material. Methods for the production of the fast dissolving oral dosage form are also provided.
WaferiXTM is a fast-dissolving, proprietary wafer formulation that allows pharmacologically active compounds, such as ketamine or fentanyl, to be administered sublingually (i.e., placed under the tongue) and delivered safely, conveniently and rapidly into the blood stream. The WaferiXTM technology offers a non-invasive, pain-free alternative to traditional routes of drug administration such as intravenous drips, injections and oral intake. Key advantages of WaferiXTM include rapid drug absorption and onset of action, better side effect profile, easy administration, improved patient compliance and a better storage profile.
The grant of the Indonesia patent marks yet another accomplishment for iX Biopharma, following its announcement last week of the success of its pilot bioavailability study for PheoniXTM, a product leveraging the WaferiXTM technology and being developed for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.
About iX Biopharma Ltd
iX Biopharma Ltd is a Singapore public-listed specialty pharmaceutical company. Its initial focus is in the development and commercialisation of innovative therapies for pain management and men’s health. The Company leverages its patented sublingual drug delivery technology, WaferiXTM, to develop proprietary products that incorporate pharmacologically active compounds that have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. It currently has three products under development – WafermineTM and WafernylTM for pain management, and PheoniXTM, for erectile dysfunction.
