IntelGenx (TSXV:IGX; OTCQX:IGXT) received its second patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, covering design and manufacturing of topical oral films for the local treatment of diseases of the oral mucosa using mucoadhesive particles.
The latest patent provides broader coverage for IntelGenx’s proprietary technology, which is intended to provide sustained release of an active agent to a target area of the oral cavity.
The technology is useful for the topical treatment of oral diseases and conditions such as gingivitis, buccal ulcers, canker sores, Sjögren’s syndrome, oral mucositis and Behcet’s disease.
“This is the second orange book eligible U.S patent IntelGenx has been granted for our topical oral film technology and reflects our strategy to broaden and diversify our intellectual property portfolio to obtain protection for the many applications of our VersaFilm technology,” Horst Zerbe, CEO, said in a statement.
“In this case, we believe our technology offers a novel and potentially superior treatment option for oral diseases, such as Sjögren’s syndrome and oral mucositis, both of which represent significant unmet medical need and a large market opportunity,” he added.
Available data indicate that the global market for oral mucositis treatments is about $2-billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of approximately 7% through to 2024, while the global Sjögren’s syndrome market is expected to reach $2-billion by 2024.
