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Apricus Biosciences Announces Pre-Clinical Results Showing the Ability of the NexACT® Technology to Rectal Delivery of Biologics, such as Human Antibodies

Date : 09/14/2010 @ 9:50AM
Source : Business Wire
Stock : Apricus Biosciences (APRI)

http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=44361480&symbol=APRI

Apricus Biosciences (“Apricus Bio,” formerly NexMed, Inc.) (Nasdaq: APRI), backed by a revenue generating CRO business and seeking to leverage its multi-route NexACT® drug delivery technology and internal pipeline through out-licensing arrangements and partnerships, today announced results from a pre-clinical pharmacokinetic study showing the ability of NexACT to enable rectal delivery of biologics, such as human antibodies. Specifically, data from the study showed that rectal delivery of Rituxan®, formulated with NexACT, yielded similar blood levels of the antibody, as compared to delivery via subcutaneous route.

Rituxan is currently marketed by Genentech and Biogen IDEC. The drug is prescribed to treat Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and is delivered either subcutaneously or via three cycles of intravenous infusions in a hospital setting.

Commenting on today’s news, Bassam Damaj, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Apricus Bio, stated, “The results of this early stage study are highly encouraging. This is the only rectal delivery technology that we are aware of that can deliver systemic, fully humanized antibodies in levels comparable to those obtained via the subcutaneous delivery route. These pre-clinical results further demonstrate the versatility and potential of the NexACT technology as a multi-route delivery vehicle. A successful reformulation of Rituxan via rectal administration could thereby provide patients the benefit of avoiding painful intravenous infusions and risks of systemic infection. It could also offer the potential of at-home administration.”

About Apricus Biosciences

Backed by NexMed, USA and Bio-Quant, Inc., its revenue generating CRO business, Apricus Bio has leveraged the flexibility of its proven NexACT® drug delivery technology to enable multi-route administration of new and improved compounds across numerous therapeutic classes. Future growth is expected to be driven primarily through out-licensing of this technology for the development and commercialization of such compounds to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, worldwide. Concurrently, the Company is seeking to monetize its existing product pipeline, including compounds from pre-clinical through Phase 3, currently focused on dermatology, sexual dysfunction and cancer. For further information on Apricus Bio and its subsidiaries, visit http://www.apricusbio.com. (Apricus Bio was previously named NexMed, Inc. The corporate name was changed in September 2010 in recognition of the evolution and expansion of the Company’s business.)

Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor

Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act: with the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the Company, including but not limited to, its ability to replicate pre-clinical results in human clinical trials, the ability to obtain necessary rights to use other parties’ compounds with the NexACT technology and the ability to realize growth plans through the out-licensing of our drug candidates or the NexACT technology. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are urged to read the Company’s risk factors contained in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the SEC.