En Ze Jia Shi Pharmaceuticals receives patent for controlled-release oral gliclazide

Oct 20 2010

Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LTUS) ("Lotus" or the "Company"), a fast-growing, profitable developer, manufacturer and seller of medicine and drugs in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, En Ze Jia Shi Pharmaceuticals, has been issued a patent by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China for controlled-release oral gliclazide. The patent covers the composition and preparation methods for the drug through 2030.

Gliclazide is commonly used to control mild to moderate adult-onset Type 2 diabetes. The drug belongs to the second generation of sulfonylureas, a class of anti-diabetic drugs that stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin. Lotus' novel controlled-release gliclazide tablet is formulated using osmotic pump technology, which encases the drug in a semi-permeable framework for a gradual, sustained release. The drug release is designed to be minimally affected by pH, gastric acid and food intake. In preclinical studies, the tablets demonstrated a similar rate of drug release in both in vitro and in vivo models.