Othera Pharmaceuticals Announces First U.S. Patent Issued On New Class of Compounds to Treat AMD and Other Ophthalmic Diseases

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Othera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceuticals company focused on novel, patient-administered products for ophthalmic disease, has today announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued to Othera the first patent covering a broad class of disubstituted hydroxylamine small molecules that target oxidative stress and inflammation pathways believed to be involved in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other diseases of the eye. U.S. Patent No. 7,442,711 covers several new chemical entities, including composition of matter and use of the company’s lead product candidate, OT-551. David Joseph, Othera’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “We are quite pleased that the PTO has issued this important patent to protect our OT-551 intellectual property estate.” With anticipated patent life extensions, the patent is expected to be valid through at least 2024.