Chicago, April 17 2008: At the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, OptiNose presented Phase I data showing its nasal drug delivery system provides rapid, more effective and less invasive relief for migraine sufferers. The trial, conducted at Forenap Pharma, demonstrated that sumatriptan powder delivered intranasally by OptiNose is as effective as subcutaneously administered sumatriptan in preventing Glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) challenge induced EEG changes in migraine sufferers, despite much lower systemic exposure. In the trial, pharmacokinetics data showed that sumatriptan powder delivered by OptiNose was absorbed within 20 min (median tmax), which is 70 minutes faster than the marketed sumatriptan nasal spray (NDA 20-626).
“The breath-actuated OptiNose device represents a major advance by efficiently delivering the drug primarily to the highly vascularized nasal mucosa. OptiNose provides an ideal combination of 1) faster absorption than existing nasal spray, 2) efficacy similar to subcutaneous injection and 3) the potential for reduced risk of cardiovascular side effects,” says OptiNose CEO Helena K. Djupesland. “In our trial, patients using the OptiNose device did not experience the bitter aftertaste typically associated with sumatriptan nasal spray.”
The Company reports that it has also completed a Phase II clinical trial in the migraine area with excellent results and expects to present the findings in 2008.
About OptiNose Inc.
OptiNose is a drug delivery company with breakthrough bi-directional nasal technology set to transform the static nasal drug delivery market. Founded in 2000, OptiNose’s devices are designed to deliver intranasal drugs to target regions of the nasal cavity, including the sinuses and the olfactory region while preventing lung deposition. The company offers both single and multi-use intranasal delivery devices for liquid and powder formulations. The technology has been successfully tested in a number of clinical trials with results confirming the superiority of the technology compared to traditional nasal sprays. Investors in OptiNose include Avista Capital Partners in New York, WFD Ventures LLC located in New York and Entrepreneurs Fund LP based in Jersey, Channel Islands. For more information please visit www.OptiNose.com.
About Bi-directional Nasal Delivery Technology
OptiNose’s bidirectional nasal delivery technology significantly improves delivery to the targeted sites deep into the nose. While exhaling into the device, the soft palate automatically closes off the nasal cavity completely. The breath enters one nostril through a sealing nozzle and triggers the release of drug particles into the airflow. This action causes the narrow nasal passages to expand and carry these particles beyond the nasal valve to targeted sites. After delivering drug particles to the targeted sites, the air flow then exits the nasal cavity through the other nasal passage in the opposite direction.
Contact:
Darren Brandt
(212) 446-1861
dbrandt@sloanepr.com
Dan Zacchei
(212) 446-1882
dzacchei@sloanepr.com