Second Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Peptide Drug Patent Awarded to Aegis Therapeutics for Compositions Suitable for Metered Nasal Spray, Oral, and Injectable Delivery

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - May 16, 2012) - Aegis Therapeutics LLC announced today that it has been awarded a second patent, U.S. Patent, No. 8,173,594, providing PTH and PTH analog compositions having increased stability and reduced aggregation and aggregation-associated immunogenicity. The stabilized formulations of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH peptide analogs incorporate Aegis' Intravail®/ProTek® excipients suitable for all routes of administration including the non-invasive metered nasal spray delivery route or injection. Intravail® and ProTek® excipients allow for non-invasive delivery with high efficiency and stabilize, prevent aggregation, and reduce unwanted immunogenicity of protein and peptide therapeutics while avoiding the oxidative damage caused by polysorbate surfactants currently found in many protein injectable drugs.

This patent, along with US Patent 8,076,290, has been exclusively licensed to Azelon Pharmaceuticals. All currently approved PTH drug formulations require daily injection. In contrast, Azelon has reported clinical results demonstrating that formulations of teriparatide based upon Aegis' Intravail®/ProTek® show excellent nasal bioavailability offering the prospect of a "first in class" non-injectable PTH drug. Non-injectable dosage forms of previously injectable-only drugs provide greater patient convenience and acceptance, improved compliance, and avoidance of needle-stick injury and disposal problems associated with the use of needles, paving the way to increased market share and substantial growth in overall product sales.

Licenses for non-invasive delivery and stabilization of human growth hormone; GLP-1 analogs; alpha, beta, and gamma interferon; and other drugs are currently available from Aegis with additional patent issuances to be announced shortly.

About Aegis Therapeutics

Aegis Therapeutics LLC is a drug delivery technology company commercializing its patented drug delivery and drug formulation technologies through product-specific licenses. For more information about Aegis, please visit: http://www.aegisthera.com.