Syracuse University and Emisphere Technologies Inc. enter into research agreement to test oral drug delivery systems

Syracuse University and Emisphere Technologies Inc. enter into research agreement to test oral drug delivery systemsJune 22, 2009Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Syracuse University and Emisphere Technologies Inc. (OTC BB: EMIS.OB) have entered into a research agreement to combine Emisphere’s proprietary Eligen® oral drug delivery technology with a new oral drug delivery system developed in the laboratory of Robert Doyle, assistant professor of chemistry in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences. The experiments will test whether the combination of Eligen® and Doyle’s oral drug delivery technology will enhance the absorption of an appetite-suppressing hormone.

“We are very pleased to announce our collaboration with Syracuse University,” says Michael V. Novinski, president and chief executive officer of Emisphere. “Dr. Doyle and his colleagues have successfully developed innovative methods for the oral delivery of both proteins and peptides using novel methods. We therefore see a significant potential for innovation in this partnership and an opportunity for further expansion for the use of our Eligen® technology in the drug delivery arena.”

Researchers in Doyle’s lab are trying to find a way to create an appetite-suppressing drug using PYY that can be taken orally rather than by injection. PYY is a hormone that is released by the cells lining the small intestine after people eat, which signals feelings of “fullness.” Recent research has shown that the higher the level of PYY in the bloodstream, the greater the feeling of fullness.

“The Eligen® technology platform has shown great promise for improving the body’s ability to absorb both small and large molecule drugs,” Doyle says. “Of great interest to us is its ability to overcome the limited natural absorption of our vitamin-based carrier, which will enable us to achieve significant advancements in oral protein/peptide delivery. We are excited about the opportunity to leverage their technology in our ongoing research.”

About Emisphere Technologies Inc.

Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules or nutritional supplements using its Eligen® 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® 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 company’s website is http://www.emisphere.com.

About Syracuse University

Chartered in 1870 as a private, coeducational institution of higher education, Syracuse University is a leading national research university of more than 18,000 full- and part-time students from all 50 states and 90 countries, and more than 1,400 faculty members. Syracuse University is propelled by the bold idea of Scholarship in Action–education that is not static, but the living expression of insight that drives change. It is a place where students become leaders, teachers, and collaborators and where the community is continually impacted by the energy of new ideas. The Doyle lab webpage is http://www-che.syr.edu/faculty/doyle.html.