Monday, March 23, 2009 Sydney, Australia: Arana Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: AAH) today announced that it has been awarded patents by the Australian Patent Office covering PMX53 and related compounds.
Australian patent, No. 2002336783 covers PMX53 and a range of related compounds as G protein coupled receptor antagonists, including the C5a receptor antagonists, and Australian patent number 2003269609 covers the use of such compounds in osteoarthritis. The patent terms run until 2022 and 2023 respectively. PMX53 and the related family of compounds are small cyclic peptides that have the potential to be used as drugs in a range of inflammatory conditions including age related macular degeneration (AMD) and osteoarthritis.
“The approval of these patents strengthens our PMX portfolio which we are seeking to out-license. We are responding to a number of companies who have expressed interest in evaluating PMX53 and we will continue to progress all discussions with an aim of maximising the value of this asset,” said Steffen Nock, Acting chief executive officer. “PMX53 is a potent molecule with demonstrated activity in various non-ocular disease models. The issuance of these patents provides us with an additional tool in potential negotiations,” he added.
Background
PMX53 and related compounds
Complement is a key component of the inflammatory cascade and is implicated in a number of human inflammatory diseases. PMX53 and its family of related compounds are inhibitors of the human C5a ‘complement’ factor receptor. PMX53 is the compound that Arana has been developing for clinical use in AMD and is testing for its potential use in osteoarthritis. PMX53 a cyclic hexapeptide compound and behaves as an insurmountable antagonist with nanomolar affinity for the human C5a receptor.
About Arana Therapeutics:
Arana Therapeutics (ASX: AAH) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next generation antibody based drugs that will improve the lives of patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer.
Arana Therapeutics’ innovative engineering technologies provide the basis for developing its next generation antibody candidates. Arana Therapeutics has the financial strength and management expertise to develop its product pipeline.
Arana has a significant track record of commercialising its technologies and has collaborations with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), CSL, Kyowa Hakko Kirin (KHK), and licensing arrangements with Centocor (J&J) and Abbott Laboratories.
For further information: www.arana.com
