Theralase Technologies Inc. (CVE:TLT) said on Monday it has been granted a US patent for its lead anti-cancer drug, TLD-1433, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
US patent No. 9,345,769 provides patent protection for tens of thousands of metal based photodynamic compounds (PDCs); including, Theralase's TLD-1433, currently under investigation by the company for the destruction of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
The US patent provides patent protection for Theralase's second major platform of anti-cancer PDCs for 20 years from date of filing, plus an allowable extension of 433 days, providing a minimum patent protection in the US of TLD-1433 and tens of thousands of more compounds until June 22, 2034.
Theralase's first major platform of PDCs is protected by four issued US patents, under worldwide exclusive licence from Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties.
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Under worldwide exclusive licence agreement with the inventor of the latest patent, Dr. Sherri McFarland has agreed to maintain strict confidentiality on any trade secrets associated with the synthesis or manufacture of TLD-1433 for a period of 20 additional years following the expiry of the last patent covering inventions or improvements in compounds or their methods of use, thereby increasing minimum proprietary protection of TLD-1433 in the US until June 22, 2054.
Theralase appreciating the value in the metal-based compound technology, invented by Dr. McFarland, has vigorously pursued international protection of the patent, with patent applications currently pending in Canada, the major economies of Europe, Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Now that the precedent has been established with the issuance of a U.S. patent by the USPTO, Theralase is optimistic that additional international patents will issue in due course.