Alte Biosciences Files Patent For New Inflammatory Bowel Disease Drugs - Unique Compositions Of Matter To Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders

Main Category: Irritable-Bowel Syndrome
Also Included In: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 05 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Alte Bioscience, Inc., a development stage pharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce the filing of a provisional patent for a new class of drugs that may benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This is the latest in a series of pharmaceutical inventions held by Alte Biosciences, adding to its portfolio of patents of drugs for the treatment of late onset depression and innovative systems for drug delivery, packaging, and manufacturing. The composition of matter in the new filing was discovered in collaboration with PharmaDirections, Inc.

Dr. Richard Soltero and Dr. Bruce Rehlaender of PharmaDirections are the co-inventors on the patent application entitled "A Composition And Method For The Treatment Of A Gastrointestinal Disorder." PharmaDirections, under contract to Alte Biosciences, developed these innovative molecules to treat inflammatory bowel disease, (IBD) - a chronic syndrome that afflicts the digestive tract and is usually defined by an uncontrolled inflammatory response at the gut epithelial layer. Each molecule consists of two mutual pro-drugs that release medicines that are well known in the treatment of IBD. PharmaDirections will develop specialized formulations to deliver these molecules in ways that will improve their anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and cytoprotective properties.

"We are pleased that our research efforts resulted in the identification of new chemical entitles that have the potential to benefit patients with inflammatory bowel disease," stated Dr. Thomas Colatsky, CSO of Alte Biosciences. "Our ability to harness the talent and skills of PharmaDirections' scientific staff in our pipeline development efforts has paid significant dividends, as evidenced by this latest discovery."

Inflammatory bowel disease affects nearly 2 million people worldwide, and has two recognized manifestations: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease, also known as regional enteritis, can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. Most commonly, it is found in the terminal ileum/proximal colon and is characterized by distinct ulcerations that run deep into the epithelial tissue. Ulcerative colitis is only found in the colon, with the greatest majority of patients exhibiting effects in the terminal colon. The patent filed by Alte Biosciences claims separate compositions of matter for treating each of these disease states. These treatments offer the possibility of improved efficacy by targeting drug to the sites of inflammation, while reducing the prevalence of gastrointestinal side effects associated with current treatments.

About Alte Biosciences

Alte Biosciences is a virtual pharmaceutical company based in Cary NC. Alte's primary focus is the development of new, more cost-effective treatments for patients with debilitating chronic diseases. Since its inception in 2003, the Company has built a proprietary portfolio of development stage opportunities for late onset depression and inflammatory bowel disease, using the strategies of inventing new chemical entities and of 'drug repurposing', i.e. identifying new indications and new formulations for existing drugs with drug repurposing in mind. For more information, visit http://www.AlteBiosciences.com.

About PharmaDirections

PharmaDirections is a leading drug development management and consulting company located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park region. PharmaDirections is focused on helping its client identify and implement the most cost-effective strategies for developing proprietary therapeutics and accelerating clinical proof of concept and commercialization.

PharmaDirections