Merrion issued drug delivery patent
issued with a patent that covers new peptide compounds which can be
physically or chemically complexed with an active substance, either
a drug or a biological, in order to improve delivery across
biological membranes.
The issuance has implications in drug manufacturing and technology since it is the ability of these drug-peptide complexes to cross biological membranes such as the epithelium of the gastro-intestinal tract, which enhances the ability of the active substance considerably.
According to Thomas Leonard, chief scientific officer, Merrion Pharmaceuticals, said: "These peptide complexes have been demonstrated to improve the delivery of therapeutic peptides and other macromolecules across the gastro-intestinal tract, and to improve the delivery of DNA to cells."
"I am pleased that we continue to gain patent protection for our proprietary delivery technologies. The continued growth of our patent estate, establishes us as one of the leading companies in oral drug delivery," he added.
The patent (6,780,846) entitled: "Membrane translocating peptide drug delivery system," refers to peptides, which enhance uptake of a pharmaceutically active agent into a cell, into or out of an intracellular compartment, and across a cell layer.
The invention specifically relates to membrane translocating peptides, fragments, motifs, derivatives, analogs or peptidomimetics thereof and to the nucleotide sequences coding therefore, which enhance uptake of a pharmaceutically active agent into a cell, into or out of an intracellular compartment, and across a cell layer either directly or from a pharmaceutically active agent loaded particle.
The epithelium lining the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is a major barrier to absorption of orally administered pharmaceutically active agents (active agents). Absorption across the GIT epithelium can be transcellular transport through the cells and by paracellular transport between the cells.
Transcellular transport includes, but is not limited to, receptor-mediated, transporter-mediated, channel-mediated, pinocytotic and endocytotic mechanisms and to diffusion. Paracellular transport includes, but is not limited to, movement through right junctions. Of particular interest is the development of non-invasive methods for enhancing uptake of active agents across the GIT epithelium into the body.
