Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) is trading higher after securing a crucial European patent allowance for its Veyonda® anti-cancer drug candidate.
Specifically, the European Patent Office has issued a formal Notice of Allowance of claims for patent application number 17778482.4, indicating an intention to move to the patent grant stage.
Overall, Noxopharm believes the patent allowance bodes well for related Veyonda patent applications in Europe and other important territories such as the US.
Veyonda is an immune-oncology drug that works with the body’s defence mechanisms to fight cancer cells.
It moderates and inhibits cancer cell signalling and complements existing therapies like radiation treatment and chemotherapy, enhancing the efficacy of these therapies.
Investors have also greeted the news with shares up as much as 8.4% to A$0.65.
"Very pleasing validation”
Noxopharm CEO Graham Kelly said: “This allowance is very pleasing validation of our strategy of building a strong IP position around Veyonda based on a series of inter-connected patents.
“The interconnection is between method of administration and clinical use and removes the reliance on the strength of any single patent.”
A granted patent also will help underpin our commercial aim of Veyonda becoming a standard of care drug in combination with other major forms of cancer therapy.”
A crucial patent
Once granted, Noxopharm’s new European patent will be tied to the therapeutic use of its idronoxil immune-oncology drug in a suppository dosage formulation, intended to provide a steady-state blood level of drug.
The patent will run through to April 2037, meaning Noxopharm’s Veyonda candidate has enforceable rights under patent protection for another 16 years.
It is also not limited to a particular cancer type, should cover the treatment of any cancer and can be administered to patients who have received or are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Just weeks ago, Noxopharm announced it was preparing for a Phase Two Veyonda trial for its upcoming DARRT-2 study.
Patients enrolled in the study will participate across Australia, the US, France and Hungary at around 15 trial sites.