Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB: EMIS) and Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) have entered into an exclusive Development and Licence Agreement to develop and commercialise oral formulations of Novo Nordisk's insulins, which have the potential of treating diabetes, using Emisphere's Eligen® Technology. This is the second licence agreement between the two companies. The first agreement for the development of oral formulations of GLP-1 receptor agonists was signed in June 2008 with a potential drug currently in a phase 1 clinical trial.
The insulin agreement includes 57.5 million US dollars in potential product development and sales milestone payments to Emisphere, of which 5 million dollars will be payable upon signing, as well as royalties on sales. Further financial details of the agreement were not made public.
"This is an encouraging agreement on a promising technology for oral administration of proteins. We are delighted to continue working with Emisphere and their Eligen® Technology. It fits very well with Novo Nordisk's strategy within diabetes research," said Peter Kurtzhals, senior vice president, Diabetes Research Unit at Novo Nordisk.
This extended partnership with Novo Nordisk is important for Emisphere for several reasons, said Michael V. Novinski, president and chief executive officer of Emisphere. "To date, our collaboration with Novo Nordisk has been very productive, and today's agreement has the potential to offer significant new solutions to millions of people with diabetes worldwide. Finally, it also serves to further validate our Eligen® Technology."
Emisphere's broad-based drug delivery technology platform, known as the Eligen® Technology, uses proprietary, synthetic chemical compounds, known as Emisphere delivery agents, sometimes called carriers. Emisphere's Eligen® Technology makes it possible to deliver a therapeutic molecule without altering its chemical form or biological integrity.
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 87 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 30,100 employees in 76 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO).
About Emisphere
Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules or nutritional supplements using its proprietary Eligen® Technology. The Eligen® Technology can be applied to the oral route of administration as well as other delivery pathways such as buccal, rectal, inhalation, intra-vaginal or transdermal.