BOTHELL, Wash., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. , a leader in developing therapeutics using advanced molecular biology-based drug delivery technologies, today announced the presentation of data from the Company’s transmucosal peptide and protein drug delivery program at The American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, CA. The purpose of this program is to further advance the development of non-injectable methods for administering large molecule therapeutics that would otherwise require patient injections.
The presentation titled “Peptide Drug Permeation Enhancement by Select Classes of Lipids” includes data that demonstrates the potential for four new classes of lipids to enhance transmucosal delivery of peptides and proteins. Among seven groups of lipids tested (sterols, sphingolipids, ceramides, glycosylated sphingosines, alkylglucosides, oxidized lipids, and ether lipids), the latter four were identified as tight junction modulators. Alkylglucosides, however, showed very high cytotoxicity and low cell viability at concentrations (0.2- 0.4%) reported to enhance transmucosal absorption when compared to the other three lipid classes and a recently identified tight junction modulating peptide. Lipids that rapidly and reversibly alter tight junction permeability, an important factor in regulating paracellular drug transport, were identified utilizing the Company’s proprietary high-throughput tissue screening model. These lipids were shown to significantly enhance peptide permeation through epithelial tissue.
We believe that the finding that oxidized lipids activate tight junctions may help solve mechanistic questions about the origin of atherosclerosis. It has been shown that oxidized lipids in the vascular system initiate a cascade of responses culminating in an inflammatory response that leads to the development of atherosclerosis. (Berliner et al. Atherosclerosis: Basic Mechanisms Oxidation, Inflammation, and Genetics. Circulation. 1995, 91:2488-2496.)
We believe that our original research demonstrates an interaction between oxidized lipids and tight junctions of cells, raising the prospect for a new therapeutic approach to cardiovascular disease.
Nastech has previously demonstrated the ability to significantly enhance transmucosal drug delivery of large molecule therapeutics using small molecules and peptides as delivery agents. We believe that the lipids identified in this study represent a new class of molecules that have the potential to improve the delivery of these types of therapeutics.
About Nastech
We are a pharmaceutical company developing innovative products based on proprietary molecular biology-based drug delivery technologies. We and our collaboration partners are developing products for multiple therapeutic areas including 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; or Matthew Haines of Noonan Russo,+1-212-845-4235, for Nastech
Web site: http://www.nastech.com/
