Fuisz Pharma Announces Intent to Divest Strategic Patent for Detection of Opioid Abuse; Seeks Offers for Patent through May 2013

MIAMI, April 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fuisz Pharma today announced its intent to divest its strategic issued patent for the detection of opioid abuse (US 7,214,385 "Pharmaceutical Formulation Containing Dye").  This patent covers the use of dyes and staining agents in pharmaceutical dosage forms as a method to prevent the improper use of opioid drugs by visually demonstrating their misuse and abuse.  For example, where a patient abuses a drug like oxycodone through nasal snorting, this patented system leaves a stain in the nasal cavity that can be used by care givers, law enforcement, and family to determine that abuse is occurring. It does not leave a stain if taken properly by mouth.

Fuisz Pharma's Managing Member, Joseph Fuisz commented: "In the FDA's decision this month approving the withdrawal of the old Oxycontin® formulation for safety reasons thereby stopping generic companies from using that product as a reference drug, the FDA has given a strong economic incentive to innovators to deploy deterrent features to prevent abuse.  In reaching this conclusion, the FDA specifically cited intranasal abuse as well as evidence that the new Oxycontin® formulation reduced intranasal abuse."

Richard Fuisz, M.D., Founding Member, commented, "It is but a matter of time before there is an increasing recognition that abuse detection is an essential component of abuse deterrence. This is the bedrock patent of abuse recognition by the care giver, the emergency room personnel and law enforcement resulting in a powerful deterrent to abuse."

Mr. Joseph Fuisz continued: "The patented dye-stain system described in the '385 can be used independently as a feature, or stacked together with other deterrent features like crush resistance.  This ability to stack multiple features is particularly advantageous insofar is more deterrence is better.  Moreover, many formulation techniques for crush resistance do not enjoy patent protection.

"Divesting this asset will allow us to better focus on our other drug delivery assets, including the Saturn™ tablet designed for improved esophageal transit and increasingly a focal point of therapeutic and potential product liability concern with regard to unnecessary esophageal excoriation by a whole group of drugs that can cause damage when esophageal transit fails.

"We will accept offers for the '385 through the end of May 2013, but reserve the right to enter into a transaction earlier or otherwise refuse offers.  Interested parties should contact Fuisz Pharma."

Fuisz Pharma is a private pharmaceutical technology company originated by the Fuiszes. The Fuiszes have made substantial contributions in drug delivery including orally dissolving tablets and novel particle coating systems at Fuisz Technologies; inventing and developing thin film drug delivery technologies at Kosmos Pharma and MonoSol Rx, as well as independently developing extruded sheet technology, diagnostics and having extensive experience working with big and specialty pharma. Fuisz Pharma has its headquarters in Miami.  www.fuisz.com.

SOURCE Fuisz Pharma