SAINT LAURENT, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – April 4, 2017) – IntelGenx Technologies Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IGX)(OTCQX:IGXT)(the “Company” or “IntelGenx”) announced today that Dr. Horst Zerbe, its President and Chief Executive Officer, and Prof. Ludwig Aigner, Paracelsus University Salzburg, Austria, discussed the Company’s Montelukast VersaFilm™ project during a poster presentation at the 13th International Conference on Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Diseases held on March 29 – April 2, 2017 in Vienna, Austria.
Entitled “Repurposing Of The Anti-asthmatic Drug Montelukast For The Treatment Of Alzheimer’s Disease,” the poster presentation reviewed the Company’s research on Montelukast, a unique drug repurposing opportunity for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the brain. IntelGenx is working to develop a Montelukast oral film product based on its VersaFilm™ proprietary thin film technology by using the drug Montelukast, which is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of asthma and has also demonstrated potential for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the brain.
“We were very excited to have the opportunity to present at such a renowned and important conference, in front of leading medical and scientific professionals from around the word,” said Dr. Zerbe. “IntelGenx’ recent research demonstrates the strong potential of our Montelukast VersaFilm™ as a more effective delivery system for CNS applications, especially degenerative brain diseases, and we believe these compelling results were well-received by conference participants.”
As the brain ages, it loses its ability to generate new cells, while existing cells lose functionality and the ability to prevent neuroinflammation. Furthermore, the aged brain tends to produce higher levels of inflammatory agents such as leukotrienes, resulting in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. There is evidence that leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as Montelukast sodium, have the potential to reduce neuroinflammation and restore brain cell function. Such treatments can be effective for treating various neurodegenerative diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Huntington’s Disease, spinal cord and brain injuries, and stroke.
IntelGenx is working to repurpose Montelukast as a therapeutic to treat these neurodegenerative diseases by re-formulating Montelukast into an oral film-based platform with improved bioavailability. Presently, Montelukast is marketed as Singulair, a once daily tablet for the chronic treatment of asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis, which suffers from poor and inconsistent bioavailability. IntelGenx’ proprietary VersaFilm technology offers several advantages over tablets, including the avoidance and minimization of first-pass-effects, improved API bioavailability, lower dosing and toxicity, easier swallowing and better patience compliance.
In a recent Phase I study, IntelGenx demonstrated that an oral film formulation of Montelukast is safe and tolerable in healthy subjects, reduces the first-pass-effect and has a 52% higher bioavailability compared to the regular Montelukast tablet, demonstrating a clear advantage of delivering Montelukast via film. Of importance for any central nervous system (“CNS”) active drugs, IntelGenx detected Montelukast in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy volunteers who were treated with Montelukast VersaFilm™, clearly indicating blood brain barrier penetrance. Also, in contrast to many other CNS-penetrating drugs, Montelukast had an excellent safety and tolerability profile. IntelGenx is preparing a Phase II trial to demonstrate efficacy of the Montelukast VersaFilm™ to improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s Disease.
About IntelGenx:
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. Established in 2003, the Montreal-based company is listed on the TSX-V and OTC-QX.
IntelGenx highly skilled team provides comprehensive pharmaceuticals services to pharmaceutical partners, including R&D, analytical method development, clinical monitoring, IP and regulatory services. IntelGenx state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, established for the VersaFilm™ technology platform, supports lab-scale to pilot and commercial-scale production, offering full service capabilities to our clients. More information is available about the company at: www.intelgenx.com.
Forward Looking Statements:
This document may contain forward-looking information about IntelGenx’ operating results and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Statements that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about IntelGenx’ plans, objectives, expectations, strategies, intentions or other characterizations of future events or circumstances and are generally identified by the words “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “could,” “would,” and similar expressions. All forward looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, IntelGenx’ actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in IntelGenx’ annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, and also filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and www.sedar.com. IntelGenx assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Each of the TSX Venture Exchange and OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Source: IntelGenx Technologies Corp.
Investor Relations
(514) 331-7440 ext 232
stephen@intelgenx.com
Andre Godin, CPA, CA
Executive Vice-President and CFO
IntelGenx Corp.
(514) 331-7440 ext 203
andre@intelgenx.com