CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SciFluor Life Sciences, Inc., an emerging clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that strives to create innovative best-in-class therapeutics for patients in multiple disease categories including ophthalmologic and neurologic disease, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 9,266,884 with claims covering the use of the novel compound SF0166. In December 2014, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued U.S. Patent No. 8,901,144 with claims covering the composition of matter of SciFluor’s SF0166, a small molecule integrin antagonist.
SciFluor is developing SF0166 for the topical treatment of retinal disease, including Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). The drug, which is administered in the form of eye drops, could potentially replace the monthly intravitreal injections (into the back of the eye) required with current treatments for wet AMD and DME.
The development of topically administered treatments for retinal diseases has long been considered an enormous challenge by the ophthalmology and payor communities. This is because when administered topically, enough of the drug needs to reach the retina (at the back of the eye) for an appropriate period of time to exert a therapeutic effect.
To date, no topically administered drug has been approved for the treatment of either wet AMD or DME.
Ben Askew, PhD, Vice President of Research at SciFluor and the lead on the SF0166 therapeutic program, said, “The issuance of this second patent, which covers the topical use of SF0166, provides validation of our fluorine-centered approach to bringing new transformational therapies to patients with serious illnesses. SF0166 demonstrates how the appropriately placed fluorine modifications can improve the physical properties of a molecule to address the challenge of getting enough drug to the back of the eye when administered using much more convenient eye drops.”
Omar Amirana, MD, SciFluor’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President at Allied Minds, said, “This issued patent, which further protects our unique ability to potentially treat two major retinal diseases, wet AMD and DME, topically, is tremendous. We now have issued IP covering compositions of matter as well as methods of use in retinal disease for SF0166. We are excited to advance this program, which we believe would be welcomed by patients, retina physicians and payors.”
SciFluor is a subsidiary of Allied Minds (LSE:ALM), an innovative U.S. science and technology development and commercialization company.
About SF0166
SciFluor is developing SF0166, a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of integrin avß3 with an optimum balance of physiochemical properties to allow it to distribute to the retina in high concentrations after topical administration to the eye. It has been tested in an extensive set of pre-clinical assays and shown to be effective in a validated in vivo model of wet AMD. The non-fluorinated compound on which it is based does not distribute appreciably to the back of the eye after topical administration.
About AMD
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of severe vision loss in older Americans representing a multi-billion dollar market. It affects central vision and may interfere with daily tasks such as reading and driving. Macular degeneration affects the retina in two forms – dry and wet AMD, also called neovascular AMD. Wet AMD is frequently accompanied by relatively sudden loss of vision. This is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina that leak fluid or blood. Recent advances in the treatment of wet AMD can now prevent further loss of vision, or even restore vision in some cases, if treatment is given promptly. These treatments require frequent intravitreal injections of biologic drugs into the back of the eye performed in a doctor’s office. Generally, the effectiveness of these treatments decreases with time, therefore improved treatments are actively being sought. A topically administered drug that is safe and effective would be a major advance in the treatment of retinal disorders.
About SciFluor Life Sciences LLC
SciFluor Life Sciences is a drug discovery company developing a best-in-class portfolio of partnership-ready therapeutic drugs strategically capitalizing on the transformational power of fluorine. The company creates new chemical entities (NCEs) directed towards precedented biological targets. SciFluor strategically incorporates fluorine or fluorine-containing groups to design drugs with improved pharmacological profiles that provide important benefits over existing therapies such as improved safety, efficacy, tissue penetration, more convenient dosing and better patient compliance. This capital-efficient and de-risked drug discovery approach has resulted in the generation of a proprietary pipeline of novel and differentiated small molecule drugs across a range of therapeutic categories and disease areas including retinal disease, CNS disorders, and inflammatory disease and pain.
About Allied Minds
Allied Minds (LSE:ALM) is an innovative U.S. science and technology development and commercialization company. Operating since 2006, Allied Minds forms, funds, manages and builds products and businesses based on innovative technologies developed at leading U.S. universities and federal research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding company that supports its businesses and product development with capital, central management and shared services. More information about the Boston-based company can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
Allied Minds Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains statements that are or may be forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to the company’s future prospects, developments and strategies. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, those risk and uncertainties described in the risk factors included in the company’s regulatory filings. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of the company and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this press release. Except as required by law, regulatory requirement, the Prospectus Rules, the Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, neither the company nor any other party intends to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
For SciFluor:
ArcPoint Strategic Communications
Christine Dunn, 617-484-1660 x101
cdunn@arcpointstrategy.com
