Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE:AGN, OTCQB:AGNPF), the drug repurposing group, said the Canadian patent office has approved its application for a claim involving its drug Ifenprodil for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The patent was entitled 'Compositions and Methods for Treating Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis' and Algernon said it has also filed corresponding patent applications in the US, Europe, China, and Japan.
"This is the first allowance notice received by the company for one of its drugs being investigated under its innovative drug repurposing program and it is another important step forward," said Christopher J Moreau, the CEO of Algernon in a statement.
The invention claims treating interstitial lung disease, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with Ifenprodil, noted the company.
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Algernon’s intellectual property (IP) strategy includes protecting its compounds by filing patent applications including those for novel salt forms, method of use, dosing, and formulation.
The biotech is investigating already approved drugs, including naturally occurring compounds, for new disease applications, advancing them into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets.
Ifenprodil is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (GluN2B). Ifenprodil prevents glutamate signalling. The NMDA receptor is found on many tissues including lung cells, T-cells, and neutrophils and certain types of cancer cells.
Ifenprodil has been shown to mediate anti-inflammatory responses and reduce pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model of IPF.
The company is currently conducting a proof-of-concept open label 20 patient Phase 2 human trial to determine the efficacy of Ifenprodil in the preservation of lung function in IPF patients (including biomarkers of fibrosis) and its associated cough.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com