Specialty pharmaceutical company iX Biopharma Ltd (SGX:42C) announced that it has been granted a patent in India (Patent no. 319759) for its WaferiX™ drug delivery technology.  Eddy Lee, executive chairman of iX Biopharma at the FY19 AGM. NextInsight photo.The patent will expire on 26 October 2030. WaferiX™ is a multiple drug carrier platform technology that allows pharmacologically active compounds, such as ketamine and sildenafil, to be administered sublingually (i.e. placed under the tongue). The compounds are delivered safely, conveniently and rapidly into the blood stream. |
Produced via the Group’s proprietary freeze-drying technique, the porous and amorphous WaferiX™ matrix holding the active molecules is designed to collapse quickly within the sublingual space.
The molecules are then transported rapidly across the sublingual membrane into the blood vessels for a rapid onset of action.
In addition, the technology has also been proven to increase the bioavailability of drug actives as well as predictability of effect.
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Stock price |
21 c |
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52-week range |
16 – 29 c |
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Market cap |
S$135 m |
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PE (ttm) |
- |
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Dividend yield |
- |
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Year-to-date |
23% |
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Shares outstanding |
644.6 m |
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Source: Bloomberg |
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With India’s grant of patent, iX Biopharma’s intellectual property rights for its sublingual wafer technology are now secured in key Asian markets including China, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan.
Apart from Asia, iX Biopharma has amassed a portfolio of patents in other countries, namely Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom and countries in the European Union such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, as well as Finland.
 Ms Eva Tan (photo), Director, Corporate and Commercial Strategy of iX Biopharma commented:“Moving forward, the Group will continue to leverage on the vast commercial potential of WaferiX™ to develop novel treatment options in order to satisfy unmet medical needs. "Supported by a broad and diversified patent portfolio of major markets countries, we are well-positioned to seek out potential export opportunities for WaferiX™ products by way of off-take agreements and out-licensing, so as to diversify our revenue streams and chart new avenues of growth.” See also: iX BIOPHARMA: Ready to monetise drug via out-licensing |