News

Further PolyXen Technology Patent

21 June 2010

PolyXen® patent family strengthened and extended into 2025

Lipoxen plc (AIM: LPX), a bio-pharmaceutical company specialising in the development of high-value differentiated biologicals, vaccines and siRNA delivery, announces today that its monofunctional PSA PolyXen technology grant has been allowed. The patent extends the PolyXen® technology patent family in the US giving both Lipoxen and its license partners additional patent protection into 2025.

The monofunctional PSA technology is similar to Lipoxen's other PolyXen® technologies as it enables the attachment of polysialic acid (PSA, a polymer occurring naturally in humans) to a therapeutic protein, thereby extending its active life. This process is known as polysialylation and improves drug performance and longer circulation time of the drug in the body. The resulting conjugate molecules are biodegradable, non-immunogenic and non-toxic, and therefore are expected to avoid the toxicity attributed to other methods of extending active life, such as the use of polyethylene glycol in PEGylated protein drug candidates.

Importantly, this new patent means that Lipoxen's PolyXen® patent family now covers the creation of therapeutic conjugates utilising both the reducing end, as well as the non-reducing end, such methodologies having been shown in tests completed prior to both pre-clinical studies and clinical trials to avoid the problem of side product contamination.

Commenting on this announcement, Scott Maguire, CEO said:

"This new PolyXen® technology patent will protect Lipoxen's novel polysialylationtechnology into 2025. By applying this novel technology to its partners' therapeutic proteins, it is in the unique position delivering the benefits of polysialylation such as extending its active life plus the advantage of avoiding final product contamination. This forms an important part of Lipoxen's strategy to build its patent portfolio and secure long term value in the US, world's largest pharmaceutical market."

Enquiries:

Lipoxen plc

+44 (0)20 7389 5015

M. Scott Maguire, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Singer Capital Markets (nominated adviser)

+44 (0)20 3205 7500

Jeff Keating / Claes Spång

 

 

 

Buchanan Communications

+44 (0)20 7466 5000

Lisa Baderoon / Catherine Breen