EDMONTON, June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Isotechnika Inc. announced today that the Company has been issued U.S. Patent No. 7,060,672 for its lead immunosuppressive drug, ISA247. The patent entitled "Novel Cyclosporin Analog Formulations" is the first patent to be issued in this patent family in the United States. These patent claims have been filed in a total of 36 countries.
"Our patent position with ISA247 continues to be strengthened. A total of 20 patents have been issued relating to ISA247's composition, formulation and synthetic methods," stated Dr. Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our patent team will continue to pursue additional claims for ISA247 where appropriate to ensure that our intellectual property is well protected in all jurisdictions."
About Isotechnika
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Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Drawing upon its expertise in medicinal chemistry and immunology, the Company is focused on the discovery and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are safer than currently available treatments. Its entrepreneurial management and world-class team of scientists are building a pipeline of immunosuppressive drug candidates for treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use in the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation. Isotechnika looks to become the leader in development of immunosuppressant therapies.
Isotechnika's lead compound, ISA247 is an immunosuppressant currently in an extension protocol of a Canadian Phase III human clinical trial for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis and a North American Phase IIb human clinical trial for the prevention of kidney graft rejection. The Company also has an additional immunosuppressive compound in its drug pipeline, TAFA93, which is in Phase I.
Isotechnika Inc. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISA. More information on Isotechnika can be found at www.isotechnika.com.
Partnerships ------------
In May, 2006, Isotechnika signed an exclusive worldwide agreement to license its lead drug, ISA247, for ophthalmic indications with Lux Biosciences Inc.
Isotechnika signed an Option Agreement in April, 2006, with Cellgate to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize conjugates consisting of Cellgate's patented transporter technology for the topical delivery of ISA247 in patients suffering from mild to moderate psoriasis.
An exclusive worldwide licensing agreement was signed in September, 2005, with Atrium Medical Corporation for the use of ISA247 and TAFA93 specifically with drug eluting devices for the non-systemic treatment of vascular, cardiovascular, target vessel and tissue disorders.
Isotechnika Inc. also has a collaboration agreement with Hoffman La Roche which licensed the worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Isotechnika's novel molecule ISA247 for all transplant indications.
Forward-Looking Statements
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This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential of its products, the Company's expectations regarding the issuance of additional patents and the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development projects, the ability to economically manufacture its products, the potential of its products, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize its products, the ability of the Company to defend its patents from infringement by third parties, and the risk that the Company's patents may be subsequently shown to be invalid or infringe the patents of others. Investors should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Isotechnika Inc.CONTACT: Dr. Randall Yatscoff, President & CEO, Isotechnika Inc., (780)487-1600 (246), (780) 484-4105 (fax), ryatscoff@isotechnika.com; StephanieGillis-Paulgaard, Director, Corporate Communications, Isotechnika Inc.,(780) 909-4661, (780) 484-4105 (fax), sgillis-paulgaard@isotechnika.com;Archived images on this organization are searchable through CNW PhotoArchive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accreditedmembers of the media. To request a free copy of this organization's annualreport, please go to http://www.newswire.ca and click on Tools forInvestors.