Emisphere’s eligen technology makes it possible to orally deliver a therapeutic molecule without altering its chemical form or biological integrity.
The delivery technology is based on the use of proprietary synthetic chemical compounds, known as Emisphere delivery agents, or ‘carriers’. These molecules facilitate or enable the transport of the therapeutic macromolecules across biological membranes such as those of the gastrointestinal tract, and exert their desired pharmacological effect.
The decision to execute the license follows a US federal court decision favoring Emisphere in its litigation with Eli Lilly and Company. The court agreed with Emisphere that Lilly had breached the agreement in multiple areas and that the parathyroid hormone agreement between Lilly and Emisphere was terminated.
“We are very pleased that Novartis has indeed elected to execute its option to develop oral dosage forms of PTH using our technology,” commented Dr Michael Goldberg, chairman and CEO of Emisphere. “The overwhelmingly favorable decision by the court in our litigation with Lilly will now mean that this product can at last move forward with a committed and capable partner.”