SAINT LAURENT, Quebec, Feb. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IntelGenx Corp. (TSX-V:IGX) (OTCQX:IGXT) (“IntelGenx”), a leading oral drug delivery company, today announced that it has received a Decision to Grant notice from the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) to issue a patent entitled “Instantly wettable oral film dosage form without surfactant or polyalcohol.”
Once the JPO’s administrative process is complete, the patent that issues from this application will provide intellectual property protection in Japan for the formulation of IntelGenx’ VersaFilm™ technology used in its RIZAPORT® product, through 2034. RIZAPORT® is an oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan benzoate for the treatment of acute migraines. The Decision to Grant notice is the final approval stage and precedes actual granting, which is expected shortly. The identification number is Japanese Patent Application 2016-530631. IntelGenx received a similar formulation patent covering its RIZAPORT® VersaFilm™ technology from the European Patent Office in 2018 and from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2016, and has additional applications pending in other countries.
“This allowance adds to the formidable intellectual property estate that we are building for RIZAPORT® around the globe,” said Dr. Horst G. Zerbe, President and CEO of IntelGenx. “Japan is the world’s third-largest pharmaceuticals market and, as such, represents a significant commercial opportunity for RIZAPORT®. Moving forward, we will be actively seeking a marketing partner for the product in this jurisdiction.”
About RIZAPORT®:
RIZAPORT® is a patent protected proprietary oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan benzoate, a 5-HT1 receptor agonist and the active drug in Merck & Co.’s Maxalt®.
Rizatriptan is considered to be one of the most effective oral triptans, a class of molecules that constricts blood vessels in the brain to relieve swelling and other migraine symptoms. RIZAPORT® is based on IntelGenx’ proprietary VersaFilm™ technology. It dissolves rapidly and releases its active ingredient in the mouth. The administration method of the RIZAPORT® oral soluble film, which does not require the patient to swallow a pill or consume water, along with its neutral flavor, presents a potentially attractive therapeutic alternative for migraine patients, specifically for patients who suffer from migraine-related nausea, estimated to be approximately 80% of the total migraine patient population and patients suffering from dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)1.
Reference:
1 Lipton RB, Buse DC, Saiers J, Fanning KM, Serrano D, Reed ML. (2013) Frequency and burden of headache-related nausea: results from the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) study, Headache. 2013 Jan;53(1):93-103.
About IntelGenx
Established in 2003, IntelGenx is a leading oral drug delivery company primarily focused on the development and manufacturing of innovative pharmaceutical oral films based on its proprietary VersaFilm™ technology platform.
IntelGenx’s highly skilled team provides comprehensive pharmaceuticals services to pharmaceutical partners, including R&D, analytical method development, clinical monitoring, IP and regulatory services. IntelGenx’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which was established for the VersaFilm™ technology platform, offers by supporting lab-scale to pilot- and commercial-scale production. More information about the company can be found at www.intelgenx.com.
Forward Looking Statements
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Source: IntelGenx Technologies Corp.
CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Stephen Kilmer Investor Relations (514) 331-7440 ext 232 stephen@intelgenx.com Or Andre Godin, CPA, CA Executive Vice-President and CFO IntelGenx Corp. (514) 331-7440 ext 203 andre@intelgenx.com