Antares Pharma Announces the Issuance of a New U. S. Patent for OTREXUP™

U. S. Patent Number 8,480,631 – Includes Product and Method of Use Claims

EWING, N.J.--()--Antares Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATRS) today announced that it has received a Notice of Issuance from the U. S. Patent Office for patent number 8,480,631 entitled “Hazardous Agent Injection System.” The claims of this patent are directed toward an injection system for methotrexate and also a method for treating rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases using an auto-injector or similar device for subcutaneous delivery of methotrexate. Upon its issuance on July 9, 2013, the patent will provide nearly seventeen (17) years of intellectual property protection for OTREXUP™.

“This patent issuance represents a major milestone in our long-term strategy intended to provide comprehensive intellectual property protection for OTREXUP™,” said Paul K. Wotton, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer and co-inventor of the patent. “The granting of this broad and comprehensive patent is an important achievement in our commercialization strategy and one of a number of patent applications we have filed addressing the use of an auto-injector platform in combination with a wide range of product candidates, including those in our growing pipeline, such as QST being developed for testosterone replacement therapy.”

About Antares Pharma

Antares Pharma focuses on self-administered parenteral pharmaceutical products and topical gel-based medicines. The Company is developing OTREXUP™, a combination product for the delivery of methotrexate using Medi-Jet™ technology for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, poly-articular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, as well as VIBEX™ QS T for testosterone replacement therapy. The Company's technology platforms include VIBEX™ disposable Medi-Jet™, disposable multi-use pen injectors and Vision™ reusable needle-free injectors marketed as Tjet® and Zomajet® by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd (Teva) and Ferring Pharmaceuticals (Ferring), respectively. Antares Pharma has a multi-product deal with Teva that includes Tev-Tropin® human growth hormone (hGH), VIBEX™ epinephrine and several other products. Antares Pharma’s partnership with Ferring includes Zomacton® hGH. In the U.S. Antares has received FDA approval for Gelnique 3%™, a treatment for overactive bladder that is marketed by Actavis. Elestrin® (estradiol gel) is FDA approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, and is marketed in the U.S. by Meda Pharma. Antares Pharma has two facilities in the U.S. The Parenteral Products Group located in Minneapolis, Minnesota directs the manufacturing and marketing of the Company’s reusable needle-free injection devices and related disposables, and develops its disposable pressure-assisted Medi-Jet and pen injector systems. The Company’s corporate office and Product Development and Commercial Groups are located in Ewing, New Jersey.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are indicated by the words “may,” “will,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “potential,” “could,” “would,” “should,” and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, changes in revenue growth and difficulties or delays in the initiation, progress, or completion of product development. In addition, the OTREXUP™ product referred to in this press release has not yet been approved by the FDA, and the commercialization of OTREXUP™ is dependent on the Company receiving FDA approval of this product. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

Contacts

Antares Pharma, Inc.
Jack Howarth
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
609-359-3016
jhowarth@antarespharma.com

Contacts

Antares Pharma, Inc.
Jack Howarth
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
609-359-3016
jhowarth@antarespharma.com