BOTHELL, Wash., June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. presented two abstracts last week at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists National Biotechnology Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.
The abstracts presented included:
*Development of a Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP)-1 Intranasal Formulation
In vitro and in vivo results with a proprietary intranasal formulation of GLP-1 were presented. GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that has been demonstrated to lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes. GLP-1 has also been shown to induce satiety and promote weight loss. This evidence suggests that GLP-1 may have the potential to be an agent for treating type 2 diabetes as well as obesity.
Utilizing Nastech’s intranasal drug delivery technology an intranasal formulation of GLP-1 was developed that exhibited high cell viability with increased permeation in vitro. In vivo pharmacokinetic testing with Nastech’s formulation resulted in an 11 percent bioavailability of the drug in a preclinical model demonstrating the ability to significantly enhance delivery across the nasal epithelium. Additionally, in vivo pharmacodynamic testing of the effect of the drug on the body was conducted following intranasal administration of GLP-1 or a subcutaneous injection of a proprietary formulation of exendin-4. The results showed that intranasal GLP-1 decreased peak glucose concentration in a similar manner to exendin-4 and is responsible for the release of insulin in response to elevated blood glucose following an oral glucose tolerance test. We believe this data supports the potential for further development of intranasal GLP-1 as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
*Peptides and Pegylated Peptides as Intranasal Permeation Enhancers: Comparison to Small Molecule Excipients
In vitro and in vivo results demonstrating the use of peptide-based agents to enhance intranasal drug delivery of large molecules were presented. Formulations tested were comprised of a therapeutic peptide and one of the following: a single permeation enhancing peptide; a single permeation enhancing pegylated peptide; or a combination of small molecule excipients optimized to enhance drug permeation. The results showed that after intranasal administration the formulations containing a single peptide or pegylated peptide permeation enhancer produced similar or better bioavailability of the therapeutic peptide in the bloodstream when compared to the formulations using multiple small molecule excipients that have previously demonstrated enhanced bioavailability in the clinic.
The abstracts are available at http://www.nastech.com .
Additionally, Paul Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Nastech, participated in the AAPS Symposium, “Running Interference: RNAi Therapeutics Enter the Clinic,” discussing the challenges of developing siRNA therapeutics to treat pandemic influenza.
“We are pleased to share Nastech’s research in discovering novel ways to enhance intranasal drug delivery of peptides and proteins with the outstanding group of scientists that gather annually at the prestigious AAPS Biotechnology Conference,” stated Paul Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Nastech. “Additionally, Nastech’s participation in the symposium on siRNA therapeutics provided an opportunity to discuss the exciting opportunities and challenges in developing this new class of therapeutics with others in the field.”
About Nastech
Nastech is a pharmaceutical company developing innovative products based on proprietary molecular biology-based drug delivery technologies. Nastech and its collaboration partners are developing products for multiple therapeutic areas including diabetes, respiratory disease, inflammatory conditions, obesity and osteoporosis. Additional information about Nastech is available at http://www.nastech.com.
Nastech Forward Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Nastech to obtain additional funding; (ii) the ability of Nastech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) Nastech’s and/or a partner’s ability to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) Nastech’s and/or a partner’s ability to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) Nastech’s and/or a partner’s ability to develop and commercialize products that can compete favorably with those of competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Nastech’s most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nastech assumes no obligation to update and supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.
CONTACTS: Nastech Ed Bell Senior Investor Relations Manager (425) 908-3639 ir@nastech.com Noonan Russo Matthew Haines (Investors/Media) (212) 845-4235
Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc.
CONTACT: Ed Bell, Senior Investor Relations Manager, Nastech,+1-425-908-3639, ir@nastech.com; Investors/Media: Matthew Haines of NoonanRusso, +1-212-845-4235, for Nastech
Web site: http://www.nastech.com/
