EWING, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Antares Pharma, Inc. (Amex:AIS) announced the signing of a feasibility
and development agreement with an unnamed multi-national pharmaceutical
partner for an opioid analgesic to be delivered using Antares’
proprietary EasyTec™ oral disintegrating
tablet (ODT) delivery platform. EasyTec (ODT) tablets disintegrate in
approximately 10 to 30 seconds with only saliva and may assist in
patient compliance. EasyTec (ODT) importantly also provides an
opportunity for product life cycle planning and is patented in both the
U.S. and Europe. Antares will receive funding for both feasability and
development activities over the course of the contract. It is
anticipated that the parties will enter into an exclusive licensing
arrangement upon satisfactory evaluation.
Jack E. Stover, President and CEO of Antares Pharma, said, “This
agreement represents an important milestone in potentially validating
the utility of Antares’ proprietary EasyTec
(ODT) technology, as a component of life cycle planning for opiates.”
About EasyTec™ Orally Disintegrating Tablet
(ODT) Fast-Dissolve Technology
Antares Pharma’s EasyTec™
is a simple, cost-efficient, and robust technology platform which uses
direct compression during the tablet making process. EasyTec™
relies on the combination of classic disintegrants and a specific
excipient to enhance rates of disintegration. All excipients are
compendial, low cost, and do not involve special production or
manufacturing equipment. EasyTec™ tablets
satisfy pharmacopoeial requirements for hardness and friability when
compared to conventional tablets, therefore conventional high-speed
rotary tablet presses are used for tablet compression and there is no
requirement for specialized packaging. The disintegration time is
generally less than 10 seconds for EasyTec tablets with a mass lower
than 200 mg increasing up to 30 seconds for tablets with a mass
increasing to 1000 mg. EasyTec™ technology is
compatible with a broad range of actives, with high or low drug loading,
and can be used with traditional and specialized excipient categories in
addition to the incorporation of taste-masking and flavouring
technologies.
Antares Pharma is a specialized pharma product development company
focused on developing patented drug delivery systems and injectable
device engineering capabilities. Antares’
current technology platforms include its ATD™
Advanced Transdermal Delivery system, and its related TecTix™
system for topical and transmucosal delivery, its Easy Tec™
oral fast-melt technology, and subcutaneous injection technology
platforms including both Vibex™ disposable
mini-needle injection device and Valeo™/Vision®
reusable needle-free injection devices. Antares Pharma is committed to
leveraging its multiple drug delivery platforms to add value to existing
drugs and to create new pharmaceutical products and injectable devices.
Overall, Antares’ product pipeline, if
approved, will address unmet medical needs by reducing side effect
profiles, improving safety, increasing effectiveness, and improving
patient compliance and convenience. Antares Pharma has corporate
headquarters in Princeton Crossroads Corporate Center in Ewing, NJ, with
subsidiaries performing research, development, manufacturing and product
commercialization activities in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Basel,
Switzerland.
Safe Harbor Statement
In addition to historical facts or statements or current conditions,
this press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the “Safe Harbor”
provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements regarding the timing of product sales, market
estimates and market potential. Forward-looking statements provide
Antares’ current expectation or forecasts of
future events. Antares’ results could differ
materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due
to decisions of regulatory authorities, Antares’
ability to execute on its development plans and general financial,
economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the
pharmaceutical industry generally. For a discussion of these and other
risks and uncertainties that may effect the forward-looking statements,
please see the risk factors in Antares’
quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking
statements may prove to be incorrect. Antares undertakes no obligation
to update publicly any forward-looking statement.
