Aegis Awarded Patent for Fast Acting Nasal Spray Opioid Blockers and Pain Medications

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2018 -- Aegis Therapeutics LLC announced today that it has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,895,444 providing non-invasive metered nasal spray delivery of multiple opioid blockers such as nalmefene, naltrexone, methylnaltrexone and naloxone for rescue therapy in opioid overdose, as well as opioid pain medications such as morphine, buprenorphine, and nalbuphine, among others.

In early February it was reported by Aegis’ exclusive worldwide licensee for nalmefene, naloxone, and naltrexone, Opiant Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:OPNT), that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) conducted a Phase I nasal nalmefene study under a clinical trial agreement with Opiant. The study demonstrated that an intranasal nalmefene formulation containing Aegis’ proprietary absorption enhancer (Intravail®) resulted in rapid increases in plasma levels with an onset faster than an intramuscular injection and a comparatively long half-life (6.7-7.8 hours). 

Earlier Opiant studies conducted jointly with NIDA on nasal naloxone led to the approval of Opiant’s NARCAN® Nasal Spray, a first generation product approved to treat suspected or confirmed opioid overdose, that is approved for marketing in the U.S. and Canada by Opiant’s partner, Adapt Pharma Limited. NARCAN® Nasal Spray contains naloxone, the only FDA medication currently approved to treat opioid overdose, has a half-life of only approximately 2 hours. Because of the long duration of action of many opioids and the potential for recurrence of an opioid analgesic overdose, a 4-6 hour observation period following naloxone administration is recommended. A long duration opioid antagonist may reduce the potential for relapse.

In the case of acute pain control situations such as battlefield injury and domestic emergency situations, analgesic (e.g., morphine or fentanyl) administration has proved challenging and inadequate in many circumstances due to slow absorption and a large hepatic first-pass effect delaying onset of relief. Oral administration cannot be used in patients experiencing emesis. Intramuscular injection is slightly faster, but has high variability in absorption and can result in tissue depot effects, leading to possible under or overdosing, and is less effective in shock situations when blood flow is limited in peripheral tissues. While intravenous administration is the preferred method of opioid delivery, it requires trained personnel to initiate, and proves challenging in situations where venous access is not available due to shock, hypovolemia, or venous injury from frequent IV medication use. The ability to deliver these and other critical pain medications intranasally without venous access provides a breakthrough in achieving rapid pain control.

About Aegis Therapeutics

Aegis Therapeutics LLC is a drug delivery technology company commercializing its patented drug delivery and drug formulation technologies through product-specific licenses. Our Intravail® drug delivery technology enables the non-invasive delivery of a broad range of protein, peptide and non-peptide drugs that can currently only be administered by injection, via the oral, buccal, and intranasal administration routes, and with high bioavailability. Our ProTek® excipients stabilize, prevent aggregation, and reduce unwanted immunogenicity of protein and peptide therapeutics while avoiding the oxidative damage and anaphylaxis caused by polysorbate surfactants. For more information about Aegis, please visit: http://www.aegisthera.com.

About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Opiant”) (OPNT)

Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for addictions and eating disorders. NIDA, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets. Its first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is approved for marketing in the U.S. and Canada by the company’s partner, Adapt Pharma Limited. For more information please visit: www.opiant.com.

Contact:
Ralph Barry
Chief Business Officer
Aegis Therapeutics LLC
1-858-618-1400 Ext. 102
Email: [email protected]