LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals Initiates Two More Collaboration Studies for Its PG Depot

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LPI), a San Diego-based drug formulation developer, announced today that it has initiated two new collaboration programs for its Phospholipid Gel (PG) Depot drug delivery platform. The programs are designed to provide prolonged and peak-free pharmacokinetic profiles for 3 and 7 days following a subcutaneous injection for an antibiotic and a protein drug, respectively. The new studies bring the total to seven feasibility/license agreements that are applying the PG Depot to deliver small molecules, peptides, and proteins for pain, metabolic disease, anti-bacterial, and cardiovascular applications.

Andrew Chen, PhD, LPI’s president, noted, “Our newest feasibility studies represent a growing validation of our PG Depot technology. Like our ongoing collaborations, the new programs aim to transform a cumbersome routine of multiple injections each day into a convenient once-daily or once-weekly format. Both pharma and biotech companies definitely see high value in simplifying parenteral drug administration and extending or resurrecting IP protection through novel delivery technology. The protein-friendly nature of the PG Depot will create many opportunities to convert biologics from daily to weekly injections.”

About PG Depot

LPI’s proprietary PG Depot technology is a versatile parenteral drug delivery platform for small molecules and biological therapeutics that delivers 1-7 days of low burst, peak-free sustained drug release following a subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. The PG Depot is provided as a single-phase, ready-to-use, self-administration-capable gel that is injectable through fine (27G or smaller) needles. The gel is compatible with hydrophilic and hydrophobic small molecule drugs as well as peptides and proteins and can be manufactured using conventional processes. Because it is composed of FDA-approved injectable and biodegradable ingredients, the PG Depot has key advantages over other depot systems, which use new polymers or animal-derived materials and face ever-increasing safety hurdles at the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

About LATITUDE Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

LPI is a contract research organization and drug delivery company that provides innovative, leading-edge drug formulation services and technologies to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The company is recognized for its many successes in formulating insoluble drugs and for developing innovative approaches and intellectual property for its clients.