Emisphere study shows eligen technology comparable to heparin by injection

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., March 31 - Emisphere Technologies, Inc. said results of a clinical study show that heparin delivered orally using Emisphere's eligen drug delivery technology is chemically identical to heparin delivered by injection.

The study was conducted following discussions with the Food and Drug Administration regarding possible expedited registration for oral heparin, according to a company news release.

Emisphere said previous studies demonstrated that its oral heparin formulation can elevate the key parameters of anticoagulation (activated partial thromboplastin time; anti-Factor Xa; anti-Factor 2a; and tissue factor pathway inhibitor) similar to injectable heparin.

Oral heparin is an antithrombotic/anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots after surgery.

"Our data confirms that the eligen technology makes it possible to deliver heparin to the blood stream in an oral formulation," said Robert J. Linhardt, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in the release.

"The data show that heparin delivered to the blood in an oral formulation has the same molecular properties as native heparin (naturally occurring heparin) and heparin delivered by injection. We look forward to submitting these results to peer-reviewed publications with additional data in the near term."

Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company developing oral forms of injectable drugs using its proprietary eligen technology. The company is located in Tarrytown, N.Y.

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