> Martinsried/Munich, July 07, 2009. AVONTEC GmbH, a privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, today announced that the US Patent and Trademark office has granted a further patent on the company?s lead development candidate AVT-01 decoy ODN.
Patent no. US 7 485 628 relates in general to oligonucleotide based inhibitors of the transcription factor STAT-1 and their medical use. This new patent broadens the protection for the company?s lead development candidate AVT-01 decoy ODN to additional indications not yet covered by the previous patent already granted in the US. AVONTEC?s patents protecting the compound AVT-01 decoy ODN and its medical use in various indications are now granted in the USA, Europe, Australia, China, and Russia and are pending in PCT member states including Japan, Canada and India.
"With the granting of US 7 485 628 our lead compound AVT-01 decoy ODN is now embraced by two independent families of patents in the US providing extended protection. The granting of this patent is an important step in obtaining global patent protection for our most advanced development candidate, and it further strengthens AVONTEC?s leading position in the development of targeted decoy oligonucleotide based therapies.? commented Dr. Thomas Schulze, CEO of AVONTEC.
About AVT-01 decoy ODN
AVT-01 decoy ODN is a double-stranded "decoy? oligonucleotide that effectively inhibits STAT transcription factors (including STAT-1) shown to be strongly involved in the regulation of chronic inflammation. AVT-01 decoy ODN reduced inflammation in numerous pharmacological animal models. In pilot clinical studies this drug candidate showed an excellent safety profile and had demonstrable effects on relevant endpoints.
About chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation, which includes diseases such as asthma, psoriasis, arthritis, atherosclerosis among others, affects millions of people worldwide. A vast display of complex biological processes is triggered by multiple antigens in an inflammatory environment. In particular the activation of the patient's natural defense mechanisms presents a common underlying of the observed inflammatory complexity. Novel drugs will have to address these fundamental mechanisms. AVT-01 decoy ODN and related oligonucleotides aim at an efficacious and safer treatment enabling the long-term control of the chronic inflammatory disease condition.
About AVONTEC
AVONTEC is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of novel nucleic acid based therapeutic treatments targeting transcription factors. Transcription factors are the master switches of gene regulation, able to turn genes on and off with exquisite sensitivity. The molecules developed at AVONTEC are designed to specifically attenuate abnormal transcription factor signaling, thereby normalizing the underlying cause of the disease. AVONTEC develops these decoy ODNs as therapeutic agents to treat chronic inflammation. AVONTEC?s lead programs, AVT-01 in asthma and AVT-02 UE in inflammatory skin diseases, have been successfully advanced into Phase IIa clinical trials. In addition, there are several candidates in the pipeline based on AVONTEC?s core decoy technology. AVONTEC operates a lean business model with a seasoned management team experienced in clinical development.
Contact
AVONTEC GmbH
Fraunhoferstraße 15
D-82152 Martinsried
Germany
Dr. Thomas Schulze
Phone: +49 (0) 89 8565 - 1600
Fax: +49 (0) 89 8565 - 1620
E-Mail: t.schulze@avontec.de
Press Office
AVONTEC GmbH
Fraunhoferstraße 15
D-82152 Martinsried
phone: +49 (0)89 8565 1600
fax: +49 (0)89 8565 1620
presse@avontec.com
www.avontec.com
