Intec Pharma Breakthrough in Gastric Retention:
Accordion Pill Doubles Drug Absorption

June 21, 2005
Miami, Florida

Intec Pharma Ltd. (Israel) announced today the successful results of a clinical trial using a drug marker on healthy volunteers at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. The results validate the company's proprietary Accordion Pill, a novel gastroretentive platform that targets drugs that must be absorbed by the body in what is known as the Narrow Absorption Window, the intestine segment below the stomach.

The study used Riboflavin (vitamin B2) as a model active ingredient to demonstrate the unique capability of the Accordion Pill formulation to prolong absorption of pharmaceuticals into the blood. The prolonged absorption enables greater bioavailability while reducing dosage and side effects. Many important pharmaceutical compounds are limited in their therapeutic action because insufficient amounts are absorbed into the body through this area,

"The study results confirm Accordion Pill as the first gastroretentive formulation to maintain controlled release and absorption of a drug for more than 6 hours following a low calorie meal," said Efi Cohen-Arazi, CEO of Intec Pharma. "This is a major milestone, positioning Intec Pharma as a leader in the gastric retention field with a platform technology that can improve the bioavailability of drugs in an estimated $50 billion market," he added.

The study was based on cross-over data from thirteen healthy volunteers who received alternate 75 mg. doses of Accordion Pill Riboflavin and regular immediate release Riboflavin following a low calorie meal (280 calories).

The study results showed that the Riboflavin Accordion Pill was retained in the stomach and continued to release Riboflavin to its absorption sites for significantly longer periods of time than regular Riboflavin. The stomach retention time for Accordion Pill Riboflavin was more than 6 hours compared to less than 2 hours with regular Riboflavin; the absorption time for Accordion Pill Riboflavin was 8 hours compared to 3 hours for regular Riboflavin. As a result, the total amount of Riboflavin absorbed by the body was 100 percent greater when the Accordion Pill was used than when it was not.

The study results were presented by Prof. Amnon Hoffman of the Hebrew University at the 32 nd annual meeting of the Controlled Release Society in Miami, Florida. Prof. Hoffman together with Prof. Michael Friedman is co-developer of the Accordion Pill and a member of the Intec Pharma Scientific Advisory Board.

About Intec Pharma Ltd.

Intec Pharma Ltd., a drug development company based in Jerusalem, Israel, has developed an advanced oral drug delivery system, based on its proprietary gastric-retention platform technology (The Accordion Pill). This unique solution is non-drug specific, and designed to significantly improve pharmacokinetics, efficacy and patient compliance of a wide range of drugs. This technology offers a new competitive edge in the area of oral drug development and for product life cycle management.

For more information visit www.intecpharma.com or contact
Etti Lavian, +972 2 586 4657 ext. 101
etti@intecpharma.com
Intec Pharma Ltd.
10 Hartom St
Jerusalem 91450, Israel