Silence Therapeutics PLC (LON:SLN) has been granted yet more patents from US authorities for its innovative chemical modification technology.
Its 15/589,968 and 15/594,438 patent applications have now been approved by the US Patent and Trade Mark Office and granted as US patent 9,790,501 and US Patent 9,790, 505 respectively.
READ: Silence believes number of drug developers may need to licence its technology
The AIM-quoted firm – a developer of novel RNA therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases with unmet medical need – said today’s awards provides it with further protection for its US patent estate.
Silence added that the patents significantly strengthens its claim to ownership of technology used in competitors’ late-stage drugs – specifically products being developed by US giant Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:ALNY).
Yet more protection for Silence
"These grants provide further protection for our US patent estate. We now have ten granted US patents, one US patent application, three granted European patents and four European patent applications encompassing our chemical modification technology,” said chief executive Ali Mortazavi.
“Our chemical modification patent portfolio also encompasses patents and patent applications in the following countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South Africa.
"We continue to believe that several third party late-stage RNAi candidates require licences under our chemical modification patent portfolio.
READ: Silence gains further patent protection
“This includes Alnylam Pharmaceuticals' products such as Patisiran, Fitusiran, Inclisiran, Givosiran and Cemdisiran.”
Shares edged 1.4% higher to 238.2p at the opening bell on Wednesday.