Genticel granted five new patents in the US and Asia during first half of 2014

Genticel has been granted five patents in major territories since the beginning of 2014. These patents consolidate Genticel’s product pipeline in important emerging and mature pharmaceutical markets.

The patents US 8628779, IN 258906 and KR 10-1382250, granted in the US, India and South Korea respectively on 14 January, 14 February and 1 April claim a recombinant protein carrying human papillomavirus (HPV) epitopes inserted in an adenylate cyclase protein or fragments thereof. They encompass granted claims protecting Genticel’s candidate therapeutic vaccine, ProCervix, and contain claims that also cover other HPV therapeutic vaccines with multiple antigens such as Genticel’s follow-on candidate product ‘Multivalent HPV’.

In addition, the patent US 8637039, granted on 28 January, describes an HPV infection treatment comprising proprietary methods currently used in the ongoing Phase II efficacy trial with the lead candidate, ProCervix. Lastly, JP 5496669 was granted in Japan on 14 March 2014. It protects a composition for eliciting a specific cytotoxic T cell response, comprising a lympho-ablative compound and a molecule (containing an antigenic sequence) that targets professional antigen-presenting cells. The patent specification is particularly appropriate for administration of ProCervix and related immunotherapeutics in combination with immunosuppressive drugs for use in advanced disease indications such as cervical carcinoma, HPV-associated anal and oropharyngeal cancers.

With the recent addition of these patents, Genticel adds further layers to the intellectual property portfolio protecting ProCervix across key mature and emerging markets, namely the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and India.

Benedikt Timmerman, the founder and CEO of Genticel, said: “The first half of 2014 provided Genticel with a considerably enhanced intellectual property portfolio. Four patents were granted in Q1: two in the US, one in India and one in Japan. In addition, a fifth patent was granted at the beginning of Q2 in South Korea.” He added: “The US, Indian and South Korean patents are particularly valuable because they address innovative aspects of ProCervix and Multivalent HPV pipeline products, whereas the Japanese patent is focused on combination treatments for HPV-induced cancers.”