An early stage clinical study carried out by Emisphere Technologies, Inc. showed that satiety peptides can be delivered orally in humans safely and efficiently.

The peptides GLP-1 and PYY3-36 were administered in tablet form using the company’s drug delivery agent, known as SNAC, to 12 healthy males in the study which demonstrated that both oral GLP-1 and PYY3-36 induce rapid and dose-dependent increases in plasma drug concentrations; that GLP-1 induces a relevant insulin release; and, both peptides suppressed ghrelin secretion in the volunteers. The study results were published in the October 2008 issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

The findings confirmed earlier results that the use of SNAC facilitates the rapid oral absorption of GLP-1 and PYY3- 36 and further indicating the potential of the oral approach for administering peptides safely without changing the drug formulation, damaging membranes or creating new toxicities to people with Type 2 diabetes, or for other uses as well. This method could eliminate problems associated with intravenous administration.

The company’s technology is based on the use of small organic molecules, acting as carriers that interact with macromolecules to enable oral absorption. Their 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.

Emisphere announced that it entered into a Development and License Agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S on the development of oral formulations of Novo Nordisk's proprietary GLP-1 receptor agonists in June 2008.

Source: Emisphere Technologies, Inc.