SAN DIEGO, Oct. 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithera, Inc. today announced receipt of a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent application broadly covering compositions and methods of use associated with LIPO-102, its novel injectable combination of salmeterol xinafoate (SX) and fluticasone propionate (FP) for selective, non-ablative fat reduction. Once issued, this patent will afford the company market exclusivity for LIPO-102 into 2028. This news follows Lithera’s recent announcement of positive results from a Phase II clinical trial of LIPO-102 showing dose- and time-related reductions in mean abdominal circumference and volume.