CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc. announced today that recent animal studies have demonstrated proof of concept that absorption of oral vitamin B12 using the company’s proprietary eligen(R) technology was 15-30 times greater than with the same dose of oral vitamin B12 administered alone. Emisphere’s eligen(R) technology is the basis of the company’s unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules and pharmaceutical compounds.
“This data demonstrates an exciting potential commercial avenue for our technology that can have a positive impact on the lives of many patients and Emisphere,” said Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere.
There are at least five million people in the United States receiving 40 million B12 injections annually to treat a variety of debilitating medical conditions, and at least an additional five million people are consuming over 600 million tablets of B12 of various strengths annually. “We believe that the 40 million injections demonstrates an unmet need for an oral B12 preparation that can deliver therapeutic levels of B12 and that the megadoses being consumed as tablets are further evidence of this need,” Novinski added.
The company’s current timeline includes conducting clinical human trials beginning in the third quarter of 2008.
This information, and Emisphere’s evolving business strategy, will be discussed during a conference call today at 10:00AM EST. The live conference call dial-in number is: 1-888-264-8952 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-913-312-0654 (International). An audio replay of the call will be available following the conference call by calling 1-888-203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-719-457-0820 (International). The conference replay PIN is 871428. A slide deck will be available on the Emisphere web site at the time of the call.
About Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
Emisphere Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules using its eligen(R) technology. These molecules and compounds could be currently available or in development. Such molecules are usually delivered by injection; in many cases, their benefits are limited due to poor bioavailability, slow on-set of action or variable absorption. The eligen(R) technology can be applied to the oral route of administration as well other delivery pathways, such as buccal, rectal, inhalation, intra-vaginal or transdermal. The web site is: www.emisphere.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of Emisphere relating to matters that are not historical facts (including without limitation those regarding future performance or financial results, the timing or potential outcomes of research collaborations or clinical trials, any market that might develop for any of Emisphere’s product candidates and the sufficiency of Emisphere’s cash and other capital resources) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that actual performance or results could materially differ, that future research will prove successful, the likelihood that any product in the research pipeline will receive regulatory approval in the United States or abroad, the ability of Emisphere and/or its partners to develop, manufacture and commercialize products using Emisphere’s drug delivery technology, or Emisphere’s ability to fund such efforts with or without partners. Emisphere undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date hereof. Accordingly any forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the additional risks and uncertainties detailed in Emisphere’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Emisphere’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (file no. 000-17758) filed on March 6, 2007, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed on May 7, 2007 (file no. 000-17758), for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed on August 7, 2007 (file No. 000-17758), and for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed on November 6, 2007 (000-17758).
CONTACT: Bob Madison, Senior Director Corporate Communications of
Emisphere Technologies, Inc., +1-973-532-8001; Adam Friedman of Adam
Friedman Associates, +1-212-981-2529, ext. 18
Web site: http://www.emisphere.com/
