Arriva granted fusion protein patent

The patent covers compositions of matter and uses of Aeriva, a fusion protein that combines secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and recombinant alpha 1-antitrypsin (rAAT).

The Aeriva protein, which can be produced in high levels in yeast, is said to inhibit activity in key enzymes that play roles in respiratory disease. The protein affects elastase, an enzyme that breaks down a lung structural protein, leading to emphysema. SLPI also impacts mast cell chymase and tryptase, and thrombin, each of which may be involved in airway remodeling in asthma.

Philip Barr, chief scientific officer of Arriva, said: “Aeriva is a double-barreled protease inhibitor. Because of its ability to inhibit the activity of a multiplicity of enzymes, Aeriva has potential as a treatment across a range of respiratory diseases.”