CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc. released today results of additional animal studies demonstrating that its proprietary eligen(R) technology enhances the absorption of oral B12 at considerably lower doses than were used previously. The lower doses are believed to be more physiologically relevant. The data showed that the rate of absorption of B12 administered with eligen(R) increased significantly -- 26 to 34 minutes, compared with 72 minutes for B12 administered alone. Confirming the original study, overall absorption of B12 using eligen(R) technology was 18 times greater than with the same dose administered alone.
“This new data not only confirms our original findings, but is a step forward in our plan to commercialize our eligen(R) technology,” said Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere. “These studies validate our belief in the efficacy of the technology and enable us to move toward human clinical studies as early as the beginning of the third quarter of this year.”
Commenting on the size of the potential market for an oral B12 preparation, Mr. Novinski noted that, “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. This indicates a large need for an oral B12 that can deliver therapeutic levels.”
ABOUT EMISPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Emisphere Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules and pharmaceutical compounds using its eligen(R) Technology. These molecules and compounds could be currently available or are in preclinical or clinical development. Such molecules or compounds usually cannot be delivered by the oral route of administration or the benefits of these compounds 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, per rectum, pulmonary, 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 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed on March 17, 2008, 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, Emisphere
Technologies, Inc., +1-973-532-8001; Adam Friedman, Adam Friedman
Associates, +1-212-981-2529, extension 18
Web site: http://www.emisphere.com/
