Arecor Therapeutics PLC (AIM:AREC) won patent protection for a high-concentration version of the world’s top-selling drug.
It perfected the technically tricky feat of producing the new iteration of Humira, also known as adalimumab, using its Arestat technology.
Sold by AbbVie, the monoclonal antibody product, which is used to treat arthritis and Crohn's disease, amassed sales of US$21bn last year.
The European Patent Office granted two patents (EP3592383B1 and EP3592385B1) protecting Arecor’s novel formulations of high-concentration adalimumab until 2038.
Arecor chief executive Sarah Howell said: "These European patents for high-concentration adalimumab are an important addition to Arecor's product patent portfolio and provide further proof of the potential of our Arestat technology in the development of enhanced biologic products, including high-value biosimilars.”