Drug developer Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACHN) said Wednesday that it has received a US patent for ACH-1625, an investigational drug designed to treat the hepatitis C virus.
The new patent, which covers composition of matter and method of use, has a term until 2029, the company said.
"This key patent grant provides a cornerstone for Achillion's intellectual property portfolio for ACH-1625 and a number of structurally related compounds," said president and CEO Michael D. Kishbauch.
The company is expecting phase 2 clinical trial results for ACH-1625 in the next months, and is also planning to move two other compounds into phase 1 trials during the first half of the year.