Pharmaceutical Business review

US issues additional patent allowance for NuPathe’s migraine therapy

Expected to be issued in the next few months, the fifth US patent will provide additional protection to Zecuity, the sumatriptan iontophoretic transdermal system.

Other US patents covering Zecuity will expire between 2027 and 2029, while several additional patent applications are still pending in the US and other territories.

NuPathe chief executive officer Armando Anido said the issuance of the patent provides long-term protection to Zecuity useful for migraine paients.

"We believe ZECUITY offers significant value, and we remain focused on securing our commercial partner in advance of the planned 4Q13 launch in the US," Anido added.

After applying the single-use, battery-powered patch to the upper arm or thigh during a migraine, transdermal delivery bypassing the gastrointestinal tract is initiated.