Adolor Corporation has received two additional patents related to alvimopan from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The first patent is directed to the use of alvimopan in the treatment and prevention of postoperative ileus.The second patent is directed to the use of alvimopan and other peripheral mu opioid antagonist compounds in combination with a variety of opioid narcotic analgesics for the treatment of pain.

"Methods for the Treatment and Prevention of Ileus" issued as U.S. Patent No. 6,469,030 on October 22, 2002, covers novel methods for the use of alvimopan and structurally-related peripheral antagonists for the treatment or prevention of ileus, including postoperative ileus, postpartum ileus, and other forms of post-surgical ileus.

"Methods and Compositions Involving Opioids and Antagonists Thereof" issued as U. S. Patent No. 6,451,806 on September 17, 2002, covers methods of use and fixed-dose compositions of alvimopan, methylnaltrexone, and other peripheral mu opioid antagonists in combination with opioid related analgesics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine or tramadol wherein the compositions are administered in a single dose formulation or sequentially in separate dosage forms provided in a kit.

"We are pleased to have added these two new patents to our intellectual property position for alvimopan," commented Bruce A. Peacock, president and chief executive officer of Adolor."We have an active program to identify and apply for intellectual property protection. These two patents represent significant additions to the intellectual property portfolio around alvimopan and they complement the existing composition of matter patent covering alvimopan.These two new patents expire in the year 2019."

Postoperative ileus is the temporary impairment of gastrointestinal motility that often occurs in patients following major abdominal surgery. Postoperative ileus may also occur following chest, pelvic, or orthopedic surgery.Adolor estimates that 4.3 million patients suffer from postoperative ileus annually in the United States following major abdominal, thoracic, or orthopedic surgery.There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for the management of postoperative ileus.