Company Also Acquires License to Bone Growth Patent Applications
FAIRFIELD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2006--Unigene
Laboratories, Inc. (OTCBB: UGNE) has engaged two leading clinicians as
consultants to assist in the development and testing relating to the
Site-Directed Bone Growth program currently being conducted by the
company in collaboration with investigators from Yale University
Medical School.
Unigene scientists, in collaboration with Dr. Agnes Vignery at
Yale, co-invented the Site-Directed Bone Growth technology, which
involves the use of a simple, minimally invasive outpatient procedure
in conjunction with the administration of an anabolic drug that has
been shown in animals to facilitate and accelerate natural bone growth
at precisely targeted locations. Possible applications of this
technology include strengthening of weakened or damaged bones due to
osteoporosis or fractures, the treatment of chronic back pain, the
prevention of hip fractures and the improvement of bone healing.
The new consultants are leading medical professionals from the
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine:
Dr. Donlin Long, a Distinguished Senior Professor of Neurosurgery
at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was also the
Neurosurgeon-in-Chief of the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Director of
the Department of Neurosurgery at that institution from 1973 to 2000.
He has authored more than 200 papers and authored or contributed to
over 100 books in bone and related areas. He is actively involved in
neurosurgery practice and has a major interest in the origins of
spinal pain and the outcomes of treatment of spinal diseases. He is
also one of the founders of the International Association for The
Study of Pain.
Dr. Kieran Murphy is a Director of Interventional Neuroradiology
and Associate Professor of Radiology, Neurology and Neurological
Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Murphy
is a pioneer in the field of image guided/minimally invasive spine
intervention, and the inventor of devices for vertebral stabilization
(the Murphy needles) that have become the industry standard worldwide.
He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. His research
focus is in the area of image-guided spine intervention with a
particular interest in prophylactic spine, hip, and wrist augmentation
to reduce inevitable osteoporotic fractures in high-risk patients.
"We are understandably excited to add these outstanding medical
experts to our development team for the Site-Directed Bone Growth
program," stated Dr. Warren Levy, President and CEO of Unigene. "In
collaboration with our colleagues at Yale University Medical School,
we plan to explore the many potential applications of this novel
technology, including intervention to prevent bone failure and relief
of spinal pain by rebuilding bone naturally rather than replacing it
with other foreign material."
In conjunction with this program, Unigene has licensed three of
Dr. Murphy's patent applications to strengthen its intellectual
property portfolio. The patent applications involve the use of
specialized equipment and procedures to deliver substances that
promote bone growth or strengthen existing bone.
"These novel delivery approaches and combinations should expand
our patent protection and complement the Site-Directed Bone Growth
technology in ways that may enable and facilitate additional
commercialization options," Dr. Levy added.
About Unigene
Unigene Laboratories, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focusing
on the oral and nasal delivery of large-market peptide drugs. Due to
the size of the worldwide osteoporosis market, Unigene is targeting
its initial efforts on developing calcitonin and PTH-based therapies.
Fortical(R), Unigene's nasal calcitonin product for the treatment of
postmenopausal osteoporosis, received FDA approval and was launched in
August 2005. Unigene has licensed the U.S. rights for Fortical(R) to
Upsher-Smith Laboratories, worldwide rights for its oral PTH
technology to GlaxoSmithKline and worldwide rights for its calcitonin
manufacturing technology to Novartis. Unigene's patented oral delivery
technology has successfully delivered, in preclinical and/or clinical
trials, various peptides including calcitonin, PTH and insulin.
Unigene's patented manufacturing technology is designed to
cost-effectively produce peptides in quantities sufficient to support
their worldwide commercialization as oral or nasal therapeutics. For
more information about Unigene, call (973) 882-0860 or visit
www.unigene.com. For information about Fortical, visit
www.fortical.com.
Safe Harbor statements under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking
statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Such forward-looking statements are based upon Unigene
Laboratories, Inc.'s management's current expectations, estimates,
beliefs, assumptions, and projections about Unigene's business and
industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans,"
"predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should,"
"would," "potential," "continue," and variations of these words (or
negatives of these words) or similar expressions, are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that
refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of
future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions,
are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of
various risk factors. These risks and uncertainties include the risks
associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in
the products markets, variations in Unigene's cash flow, market
acceptance risks, technical development risks and other risk factors
detailed in Unigene's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
CONTACT: The Investor Relations Group For Unigene
Investors:
Damian McIntosh/Dian Griesel, Ph.D., 212-825-3210
Or
Media:
Janet Vasquez, 212-825-3210
SOURCE: Unigene Laboratories, Inc.
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