USPTO grants CyDex Pharmaceuticals patent for Captisol

Dec 9 2009

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent to the company entitled “Sulfoalkyl Ether Cyclodextrin Compositions and Methods of Preparation Thereof.” This patent, along with other previously issued technology patents, will provide broader protection for CyDex’s Captisol^® technology until 2028.

The patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,629,331) grants protection for a new agglomerated beta cyclodextrin sulfobutyl ether sodium salt product known as Captisol. Captisol is CyDex’s proven enabling drug delivery technology that aids in the solubilization, stabilization and taste masking of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

“The Captisol that is protected by this patent flows better, dissolves faster, and packs more densely than previous morphologies,” said Dr. Theron Odlaug, President and Chief Executive Officer of CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “These improved characteristics make Captisol easier to incorporate in liquids manufactured for parenteral administration. Our strategy is focused on licensing Captisol technology and developing our own products that target unmet needs in hospital intravenous therapy, where parenteral dosage forms are crucial. Consequently, this patent provides us with yet another competitive advantage in our core market. In addition, because the new morphology improves the suitability of Captisol in manufacturing oral drug dosage forms, receiving this patent enhances our ability to pursue opportunities beyond intravenous therapy.”

Captisol is manufactured using a validated, patent-protected process and conforms to USP <1078> on Good Manufacturing Practices for Bulk Pharmaceutical Excipients.