ImmuPharma PLC (AIM:IMM) has filed a new patent application for its lead drug candidate P140, described as the world’s first “immunormaliser” for treating autoimmune diseases.
The specialty biopharmaceutical group said the filing could provide up to 20 years of commercial exclusivity covering both a novel diagnostic test and a precision treatment.
The approach identifies patients with a newly defined “Type M” immune disorder who are highly responsive to P140, potentially opening the way to tailored therapies across as many as 50 conditions.
Unlike conventional immunosuppressants, P140 aims to restore balance in the immune system without weakening it, lowering the risk of infection or cancer.
ImmuPharma said the diagnostic test could also shorten diagnosis times, improve patient selection for trials and increase the chances of regulatory approval.
Tim McCarthy, chief executive, called the development “a game changer” that strengthened partnership discussions around P140.
He added: "The discovery of a new mechanism of action and identification of Type M, a sub-type of auto-immune disorders, greatly expands the scope of P140 across a wide range of autoimmune diseases and the filing of a patent application directed towards this discovery significantly enhances the business case due to the potential for long-term increased revenues."