CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emisphere
Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMIS) released today results of additional
animal studies demonstrating that its proprietary eligen(R) technology
enhances the absorption of oral B12 at considerably lower doses than were
used previously. The lower doses are believed to be more physiologically
relevant. The data showed that the rate of absorption of B12 administered
with eligen(R) increased significantly -- 26 to 34 minutes, compared with
72 minutes for B12 administered alone. Confirming the original study,
overall absorption of B12 using eligen(R) technology was 18 times greater
than with the same dose administered alone.
"This new data not only confirms our original findings, but is a step
forward in our plan to commercialize our eligen(R) technology," said
Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere.
"These studies validate our belief in the efficacy of the technology and
enable us to move toward human clinical studies as early as the beginning
of the third quarter of this year."
Commenting on the size of the potential market for an oral B12
preparation, Mr. Novinski noted that, "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. This indicates a large need for an oral
B12 that can deliver therapeutic levels."
ABOUT EMISPHERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Emisphere Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that
focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules and
pharmaceutical compounds using its eligen(R) Technology. These molecules
and compounds could be currently available or are in preclinical or
clinical development. Such molecules or compounds usually cannot be
delivered by the oral route of administration or the benefits of these
compounds 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,
per rectum, pulmonary, 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 for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed on March 17, 2008, 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, Emisphere Technologies, Inc., +1-973-532-8001;
Adam Friedman, Adam Friedman Associates, +1-212-981-2529,
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