Clinical stage biotech ValiRx Plc (LON:VAL) has been awarded a fifth patent for its novel cancer treatment drug, VAL401.
The patent has been awarded by the US Patent Office and covers the use of VAL401 in the treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma – the most common form of prostate cancer.
News of the patent comes less than two weeks after ValiRx announced it had completed the dosing stage of the phased II clinical trial of VAL401.
READ: ValiRx completes dosing of VAL401 phase II cancer trial
Initial results from the study suggest that 2mg doses of VAL401 are “broadly safe and tolerated” and the company will therefore use this as the preferred dose in future studies.
ValRx said that the trial also showed that VAL401 biologically interacts with the patient population, “demonstrating suitability of our proposed treatment paradigm”.
“It is really pleasing to receive this notification of allowance for this latest VAL401 patent so close on the heels after our encouraging and positive announcement of first verified clinical data emerging from the VAL401 trial in Tbilisi, Georgia,” said Suzy Dilly, chief executive of ValiSeek – the joint venture company set up to progress VAL401 through the clinic.
“This allowance will further strengthen ValiSeek's portfolio at an important time in our development pathway and will grow the confidence of existing and potential partners, as far as bringing this compound closer to the marketplace.”
READ: ValiRx praises “considerable progress” made in first half
ValiRx added that several patents are still pending across Europe, Asia, Australasia and in North and South America which would provide “coverage in all significant markets worldwide”.