MORRISTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alitair Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with multiple respiratory product candidates in development, today announced that it has received a second patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its ion exchange resin formulation of benzonatate, benzonatate polacrilex. The new patent, 8,808,743, contains a composition of matter claim covering the use of Alitair’s ion exchange formulation of benzonatate. The new patent also contains claims for using benzonatate polacrilex to reduce or eliminate the choking hazard associated with conventional liquid formulations of benzonatate.
Alitair President and CEO William W. Howard, Ph.D. said, “We are excited to have been awarded this patent for our proprietary benzonatate polacrilex composition. Benzonatate is the only FDA-approved non-narcotic prescription cough product, but its use is limited due to a significant choking hazard if a patient bites into the liquid-filled gel caps currently marketed.”
“Our product is a solid oral ion exchange resin formulation and has been shown to reduce or eliminate the choking hazard associated with benzonatate,” continued Dr. Howard. “Through some extremely innovative work, we were able to bind benzonatate to a resin particle. This had never been done before and is a testament to the ingenuity of Dr. Russell Somma, Dr. Sheldon Kavesh, and Dr. Lyn Hughes.”
“Receiving this second patent is an important milestone in our benzonatate product development strategy and may be the key to benzonatate polacrilex becoming an extremely successful cough product in the future,” stated Dr. Howard. “To that end, we are actively seeking a partner to take on the benzonatate project and create what we believe can be a prescription cough product with the potential for over $100 million in annual sales.”
About Alitair Pharmaceuticals:
Alitair Pharmaceuticals, Inc., discovers, invents, and develops medicines for the treatment of respiratory illnesses. Alitair has out-licensed two prescription cough candidates that use its proprietary ion-exchange resin technology (REA™), and benzonatate polacrilex is also available for out-licensing. Alitair has also received orphan designations for two other respiratory compounds currently under development. Additional information about Alitair is available on the Alitair website at www.alitair.com.
