Transforming Oral Delivery of Peptide Drugs

Innovative Salt-Based Platform Developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A novel technology developed at the Hebrew University offers a new and efficient way to deliver peptide drugs orally—eliminating the need for injections in many cases. This platform is based on a re-engineered version of the widely used absorption enhancer SNAC (salcaprozate sodium), converted into phenolate salts that provide enhanced absorption with a significantly lower dose.

The Need

Peptide drugs are highly effective but are typically administered via injection due to their poor stability and low absorption in the digestive tract. Oral delivery options are extremely limited, and even the few available (e.g., SNAC-based formulations like Rybelsus®) require very high doses of enhancer, with low absorption rates, making them costly and complex to produce.

The Solution

This invention introduces new SNAC salt forms—including choline and phosphatidylcholine salts—designed to improve drug absorption while using less SNAC. These salts are safe, simple to formulate, and suitable for a wide range of peptides.

Advantages

  • High Performance: Demonstrated up to 4x improved absorption in animal studies with only a fraction of the SNAC used in conventional formulations.
  • Versatile Platform: Applicable to many peptide therapeutics beyond the tested compound.
  • Clinically Grounded: Builds on the well-known mechanism of SNAC, already approved by the FDA.
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Case Example: Semaglutide

In a preclinical model, semaglutide formulated with the phosphatidylcholine salt of SNAC delivered:

  • ~4x higher absorption
  • Using only ⅓ the SNAC amount
  • Potential to improve further with optimization

This demonstrates the platform’s potential to upgrade current oral peptide products or enable new oral formulations that were previously not feasible.

Partnering Opportunity

Technology is available for:

  • Licensing
  • Co-development
  • Formulation feasibility collaborations

Development Stage

  • Patent application filed
  • Validated in in vivo pharmacokinetic studies
  • Available for commercial partnership