Access announces agreement to develop oral formulation of proprietary injectable drugs

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ACCP), announced today that it has entered into a pre-licensing feasibility agreement with a leading biotechnology company to develop an oral formulation of its currently-marketed, proprietary injectable drugs.  Access will utilize its proprietary Cobalamin Oral Drug Delivery Technology to develop oral formulations of the drug for pre-clinical testing. Although the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, Access indicated that any successful formulation developed will be subject to a subsequent full-licensing agreement.

Access recently reported that its novel Cobalamin-coated insulin containing nanoparticle formulations delivered orally provided a pharmacological response (lowering of blood glucose levels in animal models) equivalent to greater than 80% of that achieved by insulin delivered subcutaneously. The Company believes the substantial oral bioavailability found underscores the formulation's potential for clinical development and ultimate commercialization.

"We are excited to begin this collaboration for the development of an oral formulation of one of the leading injectable drugs," said David Nowotnik, Senior Vice President for R&D for Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He continued, "We have seen significant oral bioavailability and promise in our previously-developed oral formulations of insulin and believe we can have similar success with many other marketed injectables. We believe this agreement further demonstrates the growing interest in our Cobalamin Oral Drug Delivery Technology."

Access' worldwide-exclusive patented Cobalamin™ technology utilizes the body's natural vitamin B12 oral uptake to facilitate oral absorption of pharmaceuticals by a "Trojan horse" mechanism. This technology platform provides Access with the ability to develop a number of different formulations with improved benefits for various disease applications.  In addition to insulin, Access has applied this technology to human growth hormone (HGH) and resulted in a formulation demonstrating efficacy that represents of over 25% improvement in weight gain, when given orally in an established animal model.  Access continues to move its insulin and HGH products towards clinical development, while submitting additional patents surrounding both formulations.

SOURCE Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.