CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., April 26, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:EMIS) announced today the publication of a research study entitled, "Investigation of the Direct Effect of Salmon Calcitonin on Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes," by Nordic Bioscience in the April 5, 2010 edition of the publication BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
To access the article, go to: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/11/62.
Oral salmon calcitonin, which uses Emisphere's proprietary Eligen® Technology, is currently being studied in osteoarthritis and osteoporosis by Novartis Pharma AG and Nordic Bioscience.
The study was conducted in vitro on cartilage samples obtained from female patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The article describes the growth promoting effects of salmon calcitonin on these cartilage samples. The study shows that treatment with pharmacological concentrations of calcitonin increases synthesis of both proteoglycan (proteins and sugars which interweave with collagen) and collagen type II -- the key components of articular cartilage.
Michael V. Novinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emisphere Technologies, commented, "The research conducted by Nordic Bioscience is unique and significant as it represents the first work to look chiefly at the ability of salmon calcitonin to stimulate cartilage synthesis. These findings provide evidence to substantiate the theory that calcitonin may exert a positive effect on joint health through its dual action of promoting both bone and cartilage formation."
About Emisphere Technologies, Inc.
Emisphere is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on a unique and improved delivery of therapeutic molecules or nutritional supplements using its proprietary Eligen® Technology. The Eligen® Technology can be applied to the oral route of administration as well as other delivery pathways such as buccal, rectal, inhalation, intra-vaginal or transdermal. The company's website is www.emisphere.com.
Safe Harbor Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements
The statements in this release and oral statements made by representatives of Emisphere relating to matters that are not historical facts (including without limitation those regarding the timing or potential outcomes of research collaborations or clinical trials, any market that might develop for any of Emisphere's product candidates and the sufficiency of Emisphere's cash and other capital resources) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the likelihood that future research will prove successful, the likelihood that any product in the research pipeline will receive regulatory approval in the United States or abroad, the ability of Emisphere and/or its partners to develop, manufacture and commercialize products using Emisphere's drug delivery technology, Emisphere's ability to fund such efforts with or without partners, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Emisphere's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Emisphere's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (file no. 000-17758) filed on March 25, 2010.