Inventage Lab has secured a U.S. patent for its monthly injectable drug addiction treatment. The company aims to establish intellectual property rights for U.S. clinical trials and global commercialization.
Inventage Lab announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent for its long-acting injectable drug addiction treatment, IVL3004. The patent covers a sustained-release injection formulation containing naltrexone and its manufacturing method.
This patent protects the particle size distribution, pharmacokinetic properties, dosage range, and manufacturing methods of naltrexone-containing microspheres. Inventage Lab explained that this will help reduce the initial burst release of the drug and ensure a steady release over approximately one month, safeguarding IVL3004’s formulation and manufacturing technology.
Notably, the patent includes formulations containing naltrexone in dosages between 240 mg and 310 mg. Inventage Lab had previously registered a U.S. patent for naltrexone microsphere formulations with specific particle sizes and biodegradable polymer characteristics.
The company clarified that while the existing patent protects the composition and particle characteristics of the microspheres, the new patent safeguards pharmacokinetic performance, particle size distribution, dosage range, and manufacturing processes. This comprehensive patent portfolio now covers IVL3004’s product composition, performance, and production processes.
IVL3004 is being developed as a long-acting injectable that administers naltrexone, used for treating alcohol and opioid use disorders, once a month. Inventage Lab reported that in U.S. Phase 1 clinical trials, IVL3004 maintained therapeutic blood concentrations for four weeks at a lower dosage compared to existing products, while also reducing the duration of injection site reactions.
With this patent, Inventage Lab plans to advance clinical development and commercialization in the U.S. market. The company will engage in regulatory discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and initiate global Phase 2 clinical trials. Recently, the IVL3004 development project was selected for the 2026 Policy Designated Global TIPS program.
The company intends to leverage the clinical and regulatory data obtained in the U.S. for domestic development in South Korea. As the need for improved treatment adherence and continuity for substance use and alcohol use disorders grows in Korea, Inventage Lab aims to enter the domestic addiction treatment market with its monthly long-acting naltrexone treatment.
An Inventage Lab spokesperson stated that this patent not only protects IVL3004’s technology but also establishes a foundation for developing improved drugs in the U.S. market and pursuing global partnerships. It plans to translate the U.S. clinical development successes into domestic approvals and entry into the public healthcare market.
Founded in 2015, Inventage Lab is a drug delivery platform company that develops medications designed to extend dosing intervals and maintain consistent efficacy based on its long-acting injectable manufacturing technology, IVL-DrugFluidic.
The company has been developing long-acting injectables for various therapeutic areas, including dementia, drug addiction, and obesity, using its proprietary platform. It is actively pursuing joint development and technology transfers with domestic and international pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Recently, Inventage Lab has focused on global clinical trials and commercialization of long-acting injectables, including the drug addiction treatment IVL3004.
