Alkermes receives U.S. patent on RMP-7; Third patent to issue on brain drug delivery technology.CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 1996--Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ALKS ALKS Alkermes, Inc. (stock symbol) ) today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 5,506,206 covering the specific chemical composition of RMP-7, the Company's proprietary agent being developed to improve drug delivery to the brain. This is the third patent to issue relating to the Company's RMP RMP right mentoposterior (position of the fetus). (Receptor-Mediated Permeabilizer) technology. The first two issued U.S. patents included claims for methods of using a family of compounds, including RMP-7, to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier blood-brain barrier n. Abbr. BBB A physiological mechanism that alters the permeability of brain capillaries so that some substances, such as certain drugs, are prevented from entering brain tissue, while other substances are allowed to (BBB BBB A medium grade assigned to a debt obligation by a rating agency to indicate an adequate ability to pay interest and repay principal. However, adverse developments are more likely to impair this ability than would be the case for bonds rated A and above. ). RMP-7 is designed to increase the delivery of drugs to the brain by transiently increasing the permeability of the BBB. Alkermes is conducting multi-center Phase II clinical trials of RMP-7 and the chemotherapeutic agent chemotherapeutic agent An agent used to treat CA, administered in 'regimens'-one or more 'cycles' that combine 3 or more agents over wks; CAs are toxic to any cell with a high rate of proliferation–the CA itself, the GI tract–causing N&V, carboplatin in patients with recurrent, malignant brain tumor Brain Tumor Definition A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain. Unlike other tumors, brain tumors spread by local extension and rarely metastasize (spread) outside the brain. . "We are conducting late stage clinical trials of RMP-7 and carboplatin in patients with brain tumor at over thirty medical centers in the U.S. and Europe," said Richard F. Pops, Chief Executive Officer of Alkermes. "This third RMP technology patent and its related foreign filings further strengthen our proprietary leadership position in drug delivery to the brain and provide significant patent protection for our leading product candidate RMP-7." RMP-7 is being developed by Alkermes for Alkermes Clinical Partners, L.P., a limited partnership which raised $46 million in 1992 to develop RMPs. Alkermes has the option to purchase the partnership's technology. Alkermes is a leader in the development of products based on sophisticated drug delivery technologies. Alkermes' focus is on two important drug delivery opportunities: (1) controlled, sustained release of injectable drugs lasting several days to several weeks; and (2) the delivery of drugs into the brain past the BBB. In addition to its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters, Alkermes operates a manufacturing facility in Ohio and a medical affairs office in Cambridge, England. CONTACT: Richard F. Pops Press Relations: Chief Executive Officer Thomas A. Pearson Alkermes, Inc. Pearson Communications (617) 494-0171 (610) 995-9730 OR Investor Relations: Clarence Swearngan, Jr. Burns 212/505-1919 |
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