EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA, drug delivery company, announces that US patent ?7,964,212 was issued on June 21, 2011, enhancing the protection of EX101.

This patent grants significant additional Intellectual Property concerning the EffRx Lead Program, EX101 (70 mg effervescent alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis).

The extended range of intellectual property in this patent protects effervescent formulations of all the orally administered bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications including risedronate and ibandronate, when delivered in the highly buffered EX101 formulation. The formulation is unique in that it delivers the bisphosphonate to the stomach in a proprietary buffered solution which prevents exposure of the stomach or esophagus to strongly acidified bisphosphonate forms, which are believed to be damaging forms of this drug class.

Additional claims related to the buffering composition and method of manufacturing were also granted.

An NDA for EX101 has been filed by the FDA. Nycomed has licensed EX101 for territories outside the United States, Canada and Japan, and the product is in registration in many countries.

“There are more and more reports around the world that generic alendronate products have even more GI-side effect problems and thereby less patient compliance than branded bisphosphonate products. We strongly believe that EX101 fills an unmet need of patients, doctors, and payers around the world since poor compliance leads to escalating health costs due to osteoporosis related fractures” stated Christer Rosén, chairman and CEO.

EffRx is a privately held drug delivery technology company specializing in the utilization of proprietary effervescent technology to develop formulations that improve efficiency, compliance and convenience of existing prescription drugs.