Quark Pharmaceuticals (Quark) has reported the issuance of Japanese Patent Number: 4354633, titled, ‘Hypoxia regulated genes,’ on August 7, 2009. Granted to Quark from a Japanese National Phase application of International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/US98/17296, the patent corresponds to US Patent Nos 6455674, 6555667 and 6740738 issued by the USPTO.
The company said that the patent covers various aspects of the RTP801 gene, including inhibitors targeting either the mRNA or peptide products of the gene.
Reportedly, the patent is part of the intellectual property estate that is the basis of PF-4523655 (formerly RTP801i-14).
PF-4523655, a synthetic siRNA molecule licensed to Pfizer on an exclusive worldwide basis that is designed to inhibit the expression of RTP801 and is being evaluated in clinical studies for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
PF-4523655 is currently in phase II clinical studies for DME and for wet AMD. By targeting the RTP801 gene, PF-4523655 has been shown to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage, and to reduce inflammation and suppress apoptosis in animal models of retinal diseases.
The company claims that PF-4523655 has the potential to show efficacy when used either as a monotherapy or in combination with existing VEGF-based therapies.
Daniel Zurr, president and CEO of Quark, said: “Patents are essential in the drug development process as they protect the significant investments in R&D and regulatory activities necessary to obtain marketing approvals and to generate commercial sales.”