Intranasal and Aegis expand drug development deal

Intranasal Technology Inc (ITI) is working on the development of a number of new drug formulations and technologies for nasal delivery, including sedatives, anticonvulsants, and medications for migraine headache and panic disorder.

The addition of heparin, a drug which inhibits blood clotting, and beta-interferon, thought to have antiviral properties, will address the need for an easily administered antithrombiotic medication as well as extend central nervous system applications. ITI has performed 18 human trials, and a patent has been issued for the lorazepam nasal spray formulation and related delivery technology.

Intravail, produced by Aegis for the collaboration, is an absorption enhancement agent which is mild and non-irritating to mucosal membranes, providing exceptionally high and unmatched bioavailability performance, comparable in efficiency to subcutaneous injection. Via the intranasal, ocular and other mucosal membrane administration routes, these agents help deliver potent peptide, protein, and large molecule drugs that currently can be delivered only by injection.

The companies believe that nasal drug delivery has numerous benefits for patients and healthcare professionals, including rapid onset of action, non-invasive and virtually pain-free delivery, and the elimination of needles and biohazardous wastes. In addition, nasally delivered drugs have the potential for direct transfer across the blood brain barrier, which could improve the efficacy of many central nervous system products.

“The Intravail drug delivery technology for protein and peptide therapeutics fits nicely into our strategy of developing unparalleled product offerings in the nasal drug delivery arena,” said John Carlisle, president and CEO at ITI.