The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted four patents to DURECT Corporation covering its Oradur technology. These patents provide additional intellectual property protection for REMOXY (oxycodone) Extended-Release capsules CII and other Oradur-based opioids until at least 2025.
REMOXY, based on DURECT's Oradur technology, is an investigational drug that is a unique, controlled release formulation of oxycodone for moderate-to-severe chronic pain designed to reduce potential risks of unintended use.
“The four new patents expand on the intellectual property coverage afforded REMOXY and other Oradur-based opioids, and the issuance of these patents indicates that the USPTO recognizes the unique aspects of our controlled release, tamper-resistant technology,” stated James Brown, President and CEO of DURECT.
The four recently issued patents are US Patent Nos. 8,133,507; 8,147,870; 8,153,152; and 8,168,217. The '507, '152, and '217 patents claim oral formulations comprising an opioid, such as oxycodone, and other components. The '870 patent claims methods of making opioid-containing formulations. Several more patent applications covering REMOXY and other Oradur-based opioids are pending, including patent applications which, if granted, would result in patents expiring in 2028, plus any eligible patent term adjustments and extensions. In Europe, REMOXY and other Oradur-based product candidates are covered by two granted patents expiring in 2016 and 2023, respectively, plus any eligible patent term extensions.
Oradur is a proprietary technology that can be used to formulate a number of drug substances in a capsule dosage form to impart controlled delivery characteristics with the added benefit of resisting common methods of prescription drug misuse and abuse compared to other controlled release dosage forms on the market today.
In December 2002, DURECT licensed to Pain Therapeutics, Inc. the right to develop and commercialize on a worldwide basis REMOXY and other oral sustained release drug candidates using the Oradur technology which incorporate four specified opioid compounds. Under the license agreement, DURECT is reimbursed for formulation and other work performed under its agreement, and will receive additional payments if certain development and regulatory milestones are achieved with respect to the licensed drug candidates. In addition, if commercialized, DURECT will receive royalties for REMOXY and the other licensed drug candidates of between 6.0% to 11.5% of net sales of the drug candidate depending on sales volume as well as a mark-up on DURECT's supply of key excipients used in the manufacture of the licensed drug candidates. Pain Therapeutics sublicensed the commercialization rights of REMOXY and other licensed drug candidates to King Pharmaceuticals in November 2005. Pfizer completed its acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals in February 2011 and as a result has assumed the development and commercialization rights and obligations to REMOXY.
DURECT is a specialty pharmaceuticalcompany developing innovative drugs for pain and other chronic diseases, with late-stage development programmes including REMOXY, POSIDUR, ELADUR, and TRANSDUR-Sufentanil.