These rights enable Pharming to accelerate pharmaceutical development of recombinant human fibrinogen (rhFIB) and stimulate medical device development through its biomaterials program.
Pharming has obtained exclusive licenses on recombinant fibrinogen for all indications in various territories, including North America, Europe and Japan. The licenses are to recently issued patents owned by the American Red Cross, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties and the University of North Carolina on the production of recombinant fibrinogen in milk of transgenic animals which are licensed to GTC from ProGenetics.
The license agreement includes an upfront payment to GTC of approximately E350,000 and a royalty on commercial sales of rhFIB. Pharming already owns several additional patents and licenses for recombinant fibrinogen and recombinant tissue sealant compositions. The acquisition of the license from GTC further broadens and strengthens Pharming’s position in this field.
Bruno Giannetti, COO of Pharming Group, said: “Securing the patent rights is important for the development of recombinant human fibrinogen, a key part of our product portfolio. We can now accelerate development of our fibrinogen product for pharmaceutical use and establish partnerships for medical device development.”