WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kylin Therapeutics, Inc., a leading second-generation RNAi company, announced today that it has received a notice of allowance from United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its second U.S. patent application. This newly allowed patent broadly covers new therapeutic RNA technology, as well as expanded areas on Kylin’s proprietary nanoparticle technology platform, “pRNA” (“packaging RNA”). This new intellectual property covers multi-valent RNA structures broadly encompassing: tissue targeting, aptamer binding, receptor-mediated endocytosis, and RNA interference. “We continue to be gratified that the USPTO recognizes pRNA as an entirely unique platform in the crowded RNAi intellectual property space,” said J. Eric Davis, J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kylin Therapeutics, Inc.
Upon issuance, this will be Kylin’s second U.S. patent. Along with its other issued and granted pRNA patents in Europe, Australia, and the United States, Kylin believes that this seminal patent family represents rare “new ground” in the field of RNAi and the delivery of therapeutic RNA. Kylin has a total of five patent families, with several other applications in the pipeline. “The unexpected, pharmacologically robust nature of the pRNA platform continues to allow Kylin to claim more ground in areas such as RNAi and tissue-specific targeting,” said Homer Pearce, Ph.D., Director and Chairman of Kylin’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Kylin’s pRNA intellectual property estate is based upon the innovative discoveries of Peixuan Guo, Ph.D., and others at Kylin, on the design and creation of novel, therapeutically relevant RNA molecules. These molecules can be engineered as RNA multiplexes that function as RNAi-inducing DICER substrates and tissue-targeting modalities, and they can be used systemically and discretely without additional delivery components. Kylin has continued and expanded upon the work of Dr. Guo, demonstrating the improved pharmacokinetics of pRNA molecules in several relevant in vivo model systems, primarily in cancer.
“The pRNA patents are a result of Kylin’s and Dr. Guo’s visionary efforts to borrow from nature and create novel, therapeutically superior RNA molecules,” said Davis. “We continue to believe this is an entirely new intellectual property landscape in the field of RNA-based therapeutics, one that is distinct and protectable from other patents in the RNAi and antisense fields.”
Following a Notice of Allowance, the process resulting in final issuance of a patent involves a number of administrative steps that are typically completed in a few months.
About Kylin Therapeutics
Kylin Therapeutics, Inc., a second-generation RNAi company, employs a revolutionary RNA nanoparticle technology platform called “pRNA” to exploit the enormous potential of RNA interference (RNAi) for treatment of many common diseases. This visionary platform has enormous potential to meet the huge market opportunity for treating cancer and other diseases with RNA-based therapeutics. The unique capabilities of the platform have enabled Kylin to overcome the most significant challenges in the development of RNA-based therapies.
Contact: Eric Davis, Kylin Therapeutics, 919-386-9694, edavis@kylintherapeutics.com, http://www.kylintherapeutics.com
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SOURCE Kylin Therapeutics, Inc.
