Arecor Therapeutics PLC (AIM:AREC) announced that the European Patent Office has upheld its patent on polysaccharide vaccines after dismissing an opposition appeal by GlaxoSmithKline PLC (LSE:GSK).
The biopharma group said its European patent EP2457590 protects novel compositions of polysaccharide vaccines, such as those used to prevent meningitis or pneumonia. Polysaccharide vaccines can degrade over time, leading to gradual loss of potency, but Arecor said its novel compositions, protected by the patent, prevent degradation and can help develop improved vaccines.
At an oral hearing on 1, the board of appeal at the European Patent Office considered an appeal filed by GSK in response to an earlier ruling in Arecor's favour and decided to dismiss the appeal, upholding the patent as granted.
Commenting on the ruling, Arecor’s chief scientific officer Dr Jan Jezek said: "We are delighted about the successful outcome of this appeal. Having developed a highly innovative formulation technology, Arecor has firmly established itself as a world leader in the formulation of superior therapeutic and vaccine products.
“Our success in the appeal hearing demonstrates the value and the strength of our innovative formulation science and associated intellectual property. Polysaccharide vaccines represent an important class of vaccines for preventing infections such as meningitis or pneumonia. Our proprietary compositions enable formulating such vaccines in a way that simplifies their administration to patients."
Arecor said it has invested in building a strong patent portfolio to protect its Arestat technology platform. Its intellectual property portfolio currently comprises 33 patent families, including more than 50 granted patents in Europe, the US and other key territories.
The group partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to deliver enhanced formulations of their therapeutic products under a technology licensing model. It is also developing an internal portfolio of proprietary products in diabetes and other indications.
Arecor shares jumped 10.5% to 420p.