Swedish pharmaceutical company Orexo AB (STO:ORX) (OTCQX:ORXOY) on Wednesday reported encouraging results from its first preclinical in vivo pharmacokinetic study of an oral semaglutide tablet developed using its proprietary AmorphOX technology.

The lead formulation demonstrated bioavailability comparable to that of a reference tablet before any optimisation of its composition. The study evaluated multiple formulations with scientific advice from an industry partner.

The results provide a foundation for further development, with Orexo and its partner planning to optimise the formulation and assess whether bioavailability can exceed that of commercially available alternatives. The companies will also explore other delivery methods based on AmorphOX technology.

Orexo's platform enables semaglutide and supporting excipients to be co-localised within the same particle, supporting its potential application to large molecules in oral tablets and intranasal powders. Successful development could provide needle-free administration options for semaglutide and other similar molecules.

Orexo said the next phase will focus on determining whether the technology can deliver commercially attractive bioavailability and support a competitive product profile.