Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc (TSE:TBP) (OTCQB:TBPMF) (FRA:JAM1) revealed that it has been granted a new patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its method of treating interstitial cystitis (IC), which is a chronic condition causing bladder pressure, or bladder pain.
In a statement, Tetra CEO Dr Guy Chamberland said: "We are very happy to have been granted this patent to strengthen our intellectual property portfolio for Tetra. The development of a cannabinoid treatment for IC was one of the Panag Pharma assets acquired by Tetra.”
“Tetra has licensed the product to one of its shared venture partners. The IC product should be commercialized in the second quarter of 2022 under the partner's brand," he added.
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According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, nearly 4-to-12 million people in America suffer from IC, and a high 90% of the patients are women. Epidemiologic research conducted in 2006 suggested that up to 12% of women may have early symptoms of interstitial cystitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients living with IC. There is currently no cure for the disorder. However, several treatments are available to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain, either on their own or in combination.
Most importantly, the Canadian Urological Association Journal reported that novel therapies are emerging for the treatment of IC, including the use of cannabinoids due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The endocannabinoid system is a key regulator of immune function with evidence for the involvement of cannabinoid receptors in bladder inflammation, said the company.
“Our studies revealed that intravesical instillation, or oral treatment, of two proprietary compounds significantly reduced bladder inflammation and significantly reduced pain in experimental models of IC,” Tetra Bio-Pharma noted. It added that the effects of both proprietary compounds were shown to be superior to intravesical Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment, a current standard of care treatment for IC.
Both compounds can be used as an adjunct and/or alternative treatment option for alleviating symptoms of inflammation and pain in the management of IC, according to the company.
Ottawa-based Tetra Bio-Pharma is a pioneer in immunomodulator drug discovery and development with a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Health Canada-cleared clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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