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news.Swedish pharmaceutical firm BioInvent has secured US patent covering the antibody drug candidate BI-505, currently in Phase II development for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
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The company said that the patent has broad coverage and protects development of any apoptosis-inducing ICAM-1 antibody.
BioInvent chief scientific officer Björn Frendéus said the company is happy to get this important patent granted in the US.
"It provides broad protection for BI-505 which was developed using our unique target and antibody drug discovery platform F.I.R.S.T," Frendéus said.
"With many targets being known, securing robust intellectual property is presently a major challenge in drug-development.
"This patent is based on the discovery of novel functions of a known target and demonstrates our ability to identify competitive antibodies and generate IP using the F.I.R.S.T platform."
BI-505 is a human antibody that specifically binds to the ICAM-1 adhesion protein also called CD54.
The drug candidate has a new mechanism involving induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) of myeloma cells and triggering of patient’s immune cells, macrophages, to attack and kill myeloma cells.
The company has received orphan drug designation in both Europe and the US for BI-505 for the indication multiple myeloma.