CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emisphere
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMIS) announced today that recent animal
studies have demonstrated proof of concept that absorption of oral vitamin
B12 using the company's proprietary eligen(R) technology was 15-30 times
greater than with the same dose of oral vitamin B12 administered alone.
Emisphere's eligen(R) technology is the basis of the company's unique and
improved delivery of therapeutic molecules and pharmaceutical compounds.
"This data demonstrates an exciting potential commercial avenue for our
technology that can have a positive impact on the lives of many patients
and Emisphere," said Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Emisphere.
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.
"We believe that the 40 million injections demonstrates an unmet need for
an oral B12 preparation that can deliver therapeutic levels of B12 and that
the megadoses being consumed as tablets are further evidence of this need,"
Novinski added.
The company's current timeline includes conducting clinical human
trials beginning in the third quarter of 2008.
This information, and Emisphere's evolving business strategy, will be
discussed during a conference call today at 10:00AM EST. The live
conference call dial-in number is: 1-888-264-8952 (U.S. and Canada) or
1-913-312-0654 (International). An audio replay of the call will be
available following the conference call by calling 1-888-203-1112 (U.S. and
Canada) or 1-719-457-0820 (International). The conference replay PIN is
871428. A slide deck will be available on the Emisphere web site at the
time of the call.
About Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
Emisphere Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that
focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules using
its eligen(R) 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(R) 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 web site is: http://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 (file
no. 000-17758) filed on March 6, 2007, 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).
SOURCE Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.emisphere.com
CONTACT:
Bob Madison, Senior Director Corporate
Communications of Emisphere Technologies, Inc., +1-973-532-8001;
Adam Friedman of Adam Friedman Associates, +1-212-981-2529, ext.
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