IDEA AG continues to strengthen its IP position

Munich, Germany – November 2004.
IDEA AG, a leader in targeted therapeutics, announces today the issuing of two new core technology patents in the European Union (EU). The patents expand the duration and scope of protection for IDEA’s proprietary drug delivery platform in a number of countries and in several commercially important directions.


The first newly granted, broad patent (EP 0935457) is part of an international patent application (PCT/EP96/04526), filed in all industrialised or highly populated countries. The document describes preparations for transporting active substances across barriers and includes more than 30 claims, ranging from functional applications through to manufacturing and practical medical applications.


The European Patent Office also issued another European Patent (EP 1140021) to the Company, entitled:
“Improved formulation for topical non-invasive application in vivo“ (PCT/EP98/08421).
The invention relates to a method for controlling the flux of highly deformable penetrants through an adaptable barrier (e.g. of biological origin), where the flux most often increases with increasing dosage of the applied formulation. This is a direct result of widening of the passages in the barrier. The method can be used, for example, for transcutaneous or transnasal administration of various active ingredients associated with the penetrants which, when in vesicular form, are characterised by a highly flexible membrane. Such a technique can be used for vaccination or therapeutic purposes.

Gregor Cevc, Chief Executive Officer of IDEA, commented:

"As a developer of innovative, targeted therapeutics, IDEA realises that it must maintain its technological leadership. The issuing of fundamental patents in EU, with further allowances expected to follow, will permit IDEA to advance and defend its commercial interests aggressively to the profit of its shareholders and partners.”

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For further information, please contact:

IDEA AG Tel: +49 89 3246330
Prof. Dr Gregor Cevc, Chief Executive Officer

Maiwald Patentanwalts GmbH
Dr. Walter Maiwald, Patent Counsel to IDEA AG

Notes to the editors:

IDEA AG is a privately held biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Munich, Germany. IDEA develops and commercializes non-invasive, targeted therapeutics based on stable, ultra-deformable carriers that are typically applied on the skin. These proprietary carriers are driven through the skin barrier by the local water gradient and can be engineered to achieve a high, localized drug concentration at the site of application and deep below. This method of application can diminish the local or systemic adverse side effects of a drug, and often increase its potency. To date, 44 patents from 8 patent families have been granted to the Company to protect its technology.

The Company’s leading products are in the area of dermatology and pain, and have excellent market potential. The targeted analgesic product IDEA-033, with blockbuster potential, has recently completed a Ph III (EU) / Ph II (US) clinical study. The North American marketing rights for this product have been out-licensed to one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical corporations. IDEA’s pipeline also includes two therapeutics (one in Ph II, for skin pain and inflammation, and one in Ph I, with efficacy data for a dermatological indication) and two pre-clinical stage dermatological products. In-house capabilities range from formulation development and small-scale (GMP) manufacturing work to clinical testing.
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