Cancer-focused biotech ValiRx Plc (LON:VAL) says its technology has been further endorsed with the award of new patents in Japan and the US.
The patents relate to the firm's compounds VAL201 and VAL401, which are currently in Phase I/II and Phase IIB clinical trials to treat prostate and lung cancer respectively.
VAL201 has received a patent in Japan means it now has patent protection in Japan, Europe and Australia and USA, with further patents pending in significant markets across the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, joint venture ValiSeek Limited between ValiRx and Tangent Reprofiling Limited has been told that a third US patent has been granted for VAL401 for treating pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
ValiSeek was formed to progress VAL401 into clinical trials for lung cancer and other cancers.
ValiRx chief executive Dr Satu Vainikka told investors: "The grants of these latest patents further extend the company's global geographic patent coverage and with the VAL201 patent grant also building nicely on our recent early clinical trial success".
In September, the group told investors that lead compound VAL201 was continuing to perform well in the Phase I/II clinical trial it is currently undergoing.
The company confirmed back in June that VAL201 – a potential treatment for prostate cancer – was well tolerated and had shown a high degree of safety.
And recently in Copenhagen, data from the first-in-human (FIH) phase I/II, dose escalation and pharmacokinetic (PK) study to show the safety and tolerability of VAL201 for advanced prostate cancer and other advanced solid tumours, was provided.
The poster presentation showed early indications of efficacy in advanced prostate cancer with no drug-related serious adverse events recorded.