Access Pharmaceuticals receives MuGard patent allowance

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc has announced that the Company has received a "Notice of Allowance" letter from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its patent application entitled "Liquid Formulations for the Prevention and Treatment of Mucosal Diseases and Disorders."

This patent provides intellectual property protection for MuGard(TM), Access' product for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side- effect which afflicts an estimated 40% of cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

Access recently received 510(k) marketing clearance from the FDA for MuGard(TM). The Company is actively seeking marketing partners for MuGard(TM). The addressable market for oral mucositis is estimated to exceed $1 billion world-wide.

Mr. Stephen R. Seiler, Access' President and Chief Executive Officer, noted, "We are actively pursuing plans to commercialize MuGard(TM), a valuable treatment option in supportive care of cancer patients. This 'Notice of Allowance' as well as the very positive clinical results reported at last year's '18th International Symposium of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer' in Toronto should strengthen our position in discussions with potential marketing partners."

The Company has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market MuGard(TM) in the United States. MuGard(TM) is Access' proprietary oral rinse product for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis, a debilitating side-effect which afflicts an estimated 40% of cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. There is currently no well-accepted treatment for mucositis. Access is actively seeking marketing partners in Europe and the US.

http://www.accesspharma.com/