BOSTON, MA – Saturday, June 28, 2008 – OptiNose announced today that it presented important new data demonstrating the superior performance of its novel nasal drug delivery device with sumatriptan for the treatment of migraines. The Phase II results indicate that the drug-device combination achieves migraine relief as quickly and efficiently as injections without the discomfort, inconvenience and risk of needle-stick injuries. OptiNose presented the data at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in Boston.
Headache relief was achieved in 74.3% and 83.8% of patients at 60 minutes and 120 minutes after administration, respectively, and 48.6% of patients remained pain free after 48 hours. The results were statistically significant when compared to the study’s placebo group. The study also confirmed earlier Phase I results. In the Phase I study, the OptiNose powder nasal drug delivery device achieved the maximum sumatriptan concentration in the blood at a median time of 20 minutes after administration. This result was comparable to injections and much faster than other intranasal delivery technologies.
“We are excited to develop this new treatment for the approximately 30 million Americans who suffer from migraines,” said Per Djupesland, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s co-author and Chief Scientific Officer at OptiNose AS. “Our new device combination will offer patients a much-needed alternative to existing, slower-acting nasal inhalers and tablets and painful injections.”
The user feedback from patients who participated in the study was also very encouraging. “The majority of the migraine patients found the device to be both comfortable and easy to use.” said Dr Djupesland. “We believe that we can offer a unique therapy for migraine sufferers, combining fast relief, low side effects and high user compliance.”
Unlike traditional nasal delivery devices, the unique design of the OptiNose device ensures that drug is delivered to target sites throughout the entire nasal cavity, achieving optimal dose delivery while avoiding the risk of drug deposition to the lungs.
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