MonoSol Rx Issued Strategic US Patent Governing the Production of Pharmaceutical Films Containing Specific Drugs and Drug Classes

WARREN, N.J., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MonoSol Rx, the developers of PharmFilm® technology and a drug delivery company specializing in proprietary pharmaceutical film products, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patent No. 7,897,080 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent provides intellectual property protection for the Company's methods of pharmaceutical film preparation along with the incorporation of specific drugs and polymer components.

Among the active categories covered in the patent are opiate and opiate derivatives such as buprenorphine and naloxone, anti-emetics such as ondansetron and granisetron hydrochloride, analgesics such as fentanyl, anti-migraines such as triptans, and anti-diabetics.  Polymer components covered by the patent include carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and polyethylene oxide.

A. Mark Schobel, president and chief executive officer of MonoSol Rx, stated, "This latest patent provides undeniable affirmation that MonoSol Rx has the leading IP position in the development of pharmaceutical films and that our PharmFilm® technology is the industry standard for film drug delivery.  Not only does this patent cover numerous actives and polymer components, but it also ensures that MonoSol Rx has process protection for the manufacturing of single and multi-layer films delivering a wide range of drug classifications through buccal and sublingual administration."  

Mr. Schobel continued, "Coupled with our prior patents, MonoSol Rx's growing intellectual property portfolio offers clear competitive advantages to our current and prospective partners who view PharmFilm® as an ideal vehicle for delivering small or large molecules as well as sensitive prescription drug targets."

About MonoSol Rx

MonoSol Rx is a specialty pharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary PharmFilm® technology to deliver drugs in films. PharmFilm® is designed to benefit patients by improving the convenience, efficacy, and compliance of new and currently marketed drugs. The Company's leadership in film drug delivery is supported by strong intellectual property, a portfolio of commercialized prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, a pipeline of prescription formulations based on PharmFilm® technology, and two recent FDA approvals - Zuplenz® (ondansetron) oral soluble film 4 mg and 8 mg, the first approved prescription oral soluble film for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced, radiotherapy-induced, and postoperative nausea and vomiting, and Suboxone®  (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film 2 mg/0.5 mg and 8 mg/2 mg CIII, the first sublingual film product for the treatment of opioid dependence.  

MonoSol Rx's commercialization strategy for all PharmFilm® products is to partner with the innovator or other specialty pharma companies that can sell-in and manage product sales and marketing.  PharmFilm® is also a tool to help sales and marketing partners differentiate in competitive markets while offering unique advantages over drugs dosed by traditional tablets, capsules and orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs). For existing and future partners, PharmFilm® formulations can also represent revenue-life cycle extensions for products with patent lives that have expired or are approaching expiration.  For press releases and other company information visit www.monosolrx.com.

Contacts:
MonoSol Rx
Keith Kendall, Executive Vice President
(732) 564-5000

The Ruth Group (on behalf of MonoSol Rx)
Jason Rando (media)
(646) 536-7025
[email protected]

Joshua Drumm (investors)
(646) 536-7006
[email protected]  

SOURCE MonoSol Rx