Mapi Pharma gets additional claims for US patent of Glatiramer Acetate Depot to treat multiple sclerosis

The notice of allowance for US Patent Application No. 13/258,808 entitled Depot Systems Comprising Glatiramer or Pharmacologically Acceptable Salt Thereof, also awarded additional claims to an earlier patent (U.S. Patent 8,377,885), issued to the company in February 2013.

The additional claims include: administration from about two weeks to about once-a-month for glatiramer salts, including glatiramer acetate; administration from about once-a-week to about six months for salts other than glatiramer acetate; and, glatiramer salts Depot, including glatiramer acetate, in combination with at least one additional drug.

The Glatiramer Acetate Depot formulation is a Life Cycle Management product of Copaxone to be injected between once-a-week and up to once-every-six-months subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle) for prolonged release of the therapeutic agent, thereby allowing for increased compliance and a reduced burden of treatment.

MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms include numbness in the limbs, paralysis and loss of vision.

Symptoms are unpredictable and differ from one person to another. According to Thomson Reuters Cortellis’ website, the global market for MS pharmaceuticals is estimated to be approximately $15 billion.