Serodus is intending to develop SER100 for patients with isolated systolic hypertension.
SER100 demonstrated favorable safety profile in earlier studies in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.
The patent covers a range of peptides that includes SER100, pharmaceutical compositions containing SER100, as well as methods of treating different aspects of cardiovascular disorders caused by elevated nociceptin levels.
Serodus has taken over rights of SER100 from Zealand Pharma (ZP120.)
Serodus CEO Eva Steiness said that the grant of this Japanese patent for SER100 protects a key commercial asset of the company, and follows previous grants in Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
"In addition, Canada is pending and a decision to grant was recently issued in Europe," Steiness said.
"We look forward to the development of SER100 and moving the compound directly into clinical Phase II development.
"The primary goal will be to demonstrate that the compound reduces elevated systolic blood pressure with only a minor effect on diastolic pressure under co-treatment with a thiazide."