TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmaus announced today the allowance of patent application number 2014-542296, by the Japanese Patent Office for the use of its lead investigative product, pharmaceutical grade L-glutamine (PGLG), for the treatment of diabetes. A related patent application is currently pending in the U.S. and certain other jurisdictions.  This represents a new potential indication for PGLG, which Emmaus is currently developing for the treatment of sickle cell disease and diverticulosis.

The allowed Japanese application reports a significant reduction of HbA1C levels, one of the best indicators of whether diabetics and pre-diabetics have blood sugar levels under control, through therapeutic application of L-glutamine. 

The covered invention is directed to compositions for decreasing HbA1C levels in individuals who are shown to have average blood sugar levels in the diabetic range. Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing a number of serious health problems including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and blindness. Japan has more than 7 million diagnosed cases of diabetes, which represents about 7.6% of Japanese between the ages of 20 and 79.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are an estimated 29 million Americans living with diabetes and an estimated 86 million Americans with prediabetes, a serious health condition that can increase a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

"This new patent allowance covering the use of PGLG in diabetes further reinforces the utility of our lead product to treat a range of diseases where there is a medical need," said Yutaka Niihara, MD, MPH, Chairman and CEO of Emmaus. "We look forward to expanding our clinical program to further evaluate PGLG's use in this new indication."

In addition to developing PGLG for the treatment of diabetes and diverticulosis, Emmaus Life Sciences is seeking U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market the product for the treatment of sickle cell disease in adults and pediatric patients. FDA has set a PDUFA date of July 7, 2017 for a decision on the company's new drug application for the use of PGLG to treat sickle cell disease.

About Emmaus Life Sciences
Emmaus Life Sciences is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies for rare diseases. The company's research on sickle cell disease was initiated by Yutaka Niihara, MD, MPH, Chairman and CEO of Emmaus, at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit www.emmauslifesciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and potential commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in reports filed by Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Emmaus is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.