Emisphere Announces Data From Independent Clinical Study of Effects of Oral GLP-1 on Glucose and Insulin Conc...( GLP-1 Has Potential to Treat Type 2...),Health

GLP-1 Has Potential to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Using Emisphere's Eligen(R)

Technology

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMIS) today announced findings from a clinical study assessing the oral delivery of GLP-1 peptide safely and effectively. The study used a delivery-agent-based approach using Emisphere's Eligen(R) technology, and was conducted at University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland by Christoph Beglinger, M.D., of the Clinical Research Center, Department of Biomedicine Division of Gastroenterology, and Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the hospital.

Prof. Beglinger's study, conducted in 16 healthy male subjects, was designed to explore the pharmacodynamic effects of a single oral dose of GLP-1 administered 15 minutes prior to an oral glucose tolerance test.

For the study, GLP-1 was formulated as a tablet with Emisphere's delivery agent known as SNAC. This was Prof. Beglinger's second clinical study of the compound, and it confirmed his earlier results that SNAC allows for rapid oral absorption of GLP-1. Prof. Beglinger's study also showed that pharmacological levels were achieved after a 2 mg oral dose. The study demonstrated that the oral formulation of GLP-1 stimulated an early increase in fasting insulin and a decrease in fasting glucose as compared to placebo.

"An intravenous or subcutaneous application of GLP-1 is cumbersome and impractical for chronic treatment regimens. Oral application of peptides is, however, difficult as peptides have a low oral bioavailability due to their molecular size and physico-chemical characteristics," said Prof. Beglinger. "Emisphere's oral delivery approach has
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