Synageva BioPharma European Patent Issued For Treatment Of LAL Deficiency

LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Synageva BioPharma Corp. (NASDAQ: GEVA), a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic products for rare disorders, announced today that the European Patent Office issued European Patent No. EP2613798 B1 relating to the treatment of lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL Deficiency).  This patent provides protection until 2031, not including any patent term extension. 

In March 2014, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 8,663,631 relating to methods of treating LAL Deficiency.  The U.S. patent also provides protection until 2031, not including any patent term extension. These patents complement existing and planned global patent portfolios covering the company's LAL Deficiency program, which includes intellectual property directed to compositions of matter, methods of use and manufacturing.

Kanuma (sebelipase alfa) and LAL Deficiency

LAL Deficiency is a serious and life-threatening disease that can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.  LAL Deficiency causes progressive and multisystemic organ damage including cirrhosis and accelerated atherosclerosis that can lead to sudden and unpredictable clinical complications.  LAL Deficiency often manifests in childhood but can be diagnosed at all ages.  LAL Deficiency is caused by genetic mutations that result in decreased LAL enzyme activity in the lysosomes across multiple body tissues, leading to the buildup of fatty material in the liver, blood vessel walls and other tissues.

Kanuma is a recombinant form of the natural, human LAL enzyme being developed by Synageva as an enzyme replacement therapy for LAL Deficiency.  Kanuma has been granted orphan designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.  Additionally, Kanuma received fast track designation by the FDA, and Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for LAL Deficiency presenting in infants.

Synageva routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investor Relations" section of the company's website at www.synageva.com.  Synageva encourages investors and potential investors to consult this website regularly for important information about the company.

Further information regarding Synageva is available at www.synageva.com.

Medical information regarding Kanuma and LAL Deficiency is available by email at medinfo@synageva.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements".  Such statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "forecast," "project," or words of similar meaning.  Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties some of which are known, such as the risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 7, 2015 and other filings Synageva periodically makes with the SEC, and others of which are not known.  No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and investors should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements.  Synageva undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Our business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above.  Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties. 

"Synageva BioPharma" and "Kanuma" are trademarks, and "Dedicated to Rare Diseases^®" is a registered trademark, of Synageva Biopharma Corp.

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SOURCE Synageva BioPharma Corp.