KARMA BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCES PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR NOVEL NASALLY-ADMINISTERED PDE-5 INHIBITORS

CORVALLIS, Ore., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Karma Biosciences announced today that it has applied for patent protection for two new drug formulations utilizing its proprietary excipient Zenergy™ . The two products are some of the first clinically tested nasally-administered PDE-5 inhibitors, sildenafil (Viagra) and vardenafil (Levitra).

The company announced the products after in-vivo testing showed significant positive results. "Our studies have shown that compared to the available oral formulations of these drugs, our nasally administered sildenafil and vardenafil formulations have significantly faster onset, within 5 minutes of administration, and significantly higher peak blood levels than any other available products," said the company's Chief Medical Officer Charles Bentz, MD.

PDE-5 inhibitors are drugs used in erectile dysfunction to help men achieve and retain erections, but the drugs have other medical uses as well. The erectile dysfunction market globally is currently valued at almost $3billion and is growing at a 9% rate annually. The number of patients utilizing PDE-5 inhibitors to maintain a healthy sex life continues to expand as telehealth and direct-to-consumer channels expand around the world.

The Zenergy™ excipient forms a carrier vehicle around the drug particle, facilitating rapid penetration of phospholipid membranes within the nasal cavity. This action allows Karma to not only develop nasal formulations of drugs that would normally be injectable-only, but also to create drugs that enter the bloodstream more rapidly and reach higher blood levels than oral or quick-dissolve versions.

"We believe that these PDE-5 inhibitor formulations will have huge impact on the market," said company CEO Glen Cunningham. "As patients continue to search for the fastest, most effective drugs to achieve their health goals, Karma will continue to develop novel solutions."

Karma has previously used its Zenergy™excipient in a variety of other drug formulations with positive results and is currently developing several other novel drug products utilizing the platform. Karma is actively looking for partners to license or co-develop products for distribution. "We are excited to partner with other forward-thinking companies to introduce these and other products to market," said Cunningham.

About Karma Biosciences: Karma Biosciences is a Corvallis, Oregon based biotechnology company dedicated to creating and testing novel pharmaceutical formulations using advanced excipients to improve drug delivery.

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SOURCE Karma Biosciences