New clinical trial begins for osteoarthritis drug that uses technology from Emisphere
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- May
- 24
Emisphere Technologies Inc., a biotech company in Eastview, said Swiss drug company Novartis Pharma AG and its development partner Nordic Bioscience have informed it that the third phase of testing has been initiated for an oral osteoarthritis treatment known as calcitonin. Emisphere develops ways to deliver drugs in oral forms, such as pills or liquids, that are usually given by methods such as injection. Emisphere’s eligen delivery technology is being used to make an oral form of salmon calcitonin, a synthetic hormone that inhibits calcium breakdown in bone. The drug more commonly is administered by injection or by nasal spray. Michael V. Novinski, president and chief executive of Emisphere, said the drug might become the first to actually help prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or joint damage. The testing is being conducted by Nordic Bioscience in the European Union and in the United States, and is planned to include more than 2,000 patients. Emisphere and Novartis Pharma entered into a license agreement for the development of oral salmon calcitonin for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in 2000.
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on Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 6:13 pm by Julie Moran Alterio.
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