Bone Biologics issued U.S. patent for recombinant protein process

Feb 24 2009

Bone Biologics Inc. has announced that it has received a US Patent Office Notice of Allowance of patent claims which protect a method of production for the UCB-1 (NELL-1) recombinant protein that Bone Biologics uses in the bone repair/regeneration technology in its lead product.

Bone Biologics has been developing the protein as a platform technology since 2004, leveraging the previous ten years of research in the lab performed by the company's founding scientists at UCLA. The mechanism of action is not only identified as to how it works, but why, through this exhaustive research effort. This platform technology is combined with DBX(R) demineralized bone matrix to promote bone growth in spinal fusion.

The platform technology will be subject to the FDA review and approval process, including clinical trials. It is not currently approved for use in humans.

The patent broadly protects the manufacturing method for the UCB-1 (NELL-1) protein. The UCB-1 (NELL-1) protein is currently utilized with a carrier (scaffold) of DBX(R) demineralized bone matrix which is produced by the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF). "The MTF is a world leader in tissue research and development, and has been both a financial and strategic partner to Bone Biologics over the past four years," noted Bruce A. Hazuka, CEO of Bone Biologics.

"We are very pleased with the progress that Bone Biologics has made in achieving each of their development milestones over the past four years and look forward to their continued progress toward FDA approval and commercialization on the timelines projected by the company," Bruce Stroever, CEO of MTF said.