The gastrointestinal permeation enhancement technology (GIPET) is an absorption boosting delivery platform that is designed to improve the delivery of injectable and poorly bioavailable oral drugs through the gut.
The new US patent, number 7,658,938 entitled "Solid Oral Dosage Form Containing an Enhancer," covers the tech when used in combination with bisphosphonates, including Merrion’s Phase II anticancer candidate Orazol.
According to company CEO John Lynch said the US award, which is in line with similar protection recently issued in Europe, “is a significant development for Merrion's GIPET technology.”
The delivery platform, which was developed by Irish drugmaker Elan, already holds a number of European and US patents, including for use with peptide complexes which are notoriously difficult to administer.
Insulin trial
Merrion’s enhanced patent position is also likely to be of interest to the firms that have licensed the technology, including Danish Insulin giant Novo Nordisk and Swiss drugmaker Ferring Pharmaceuticals, both of which signed up in 2008.
The most advanced of these development collaborations is with Novo, whose initiation of Phase I trials of an oral insulin analogue that uses GIPET last month, triggered a $2m payment to Merrion.
Speaking at the time Lynch said the trial “Is an extremely positive development for Merrion…and we are determined to ensure that our highly motivated team of specialists maximises the likelihood of success for Novo Nordisk’s oral insulin candidates.”