Omni Bio receives U.S patent for treatment of viral infections

Nov 23 2010

Omni Bio Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: OMBP), today announced that U.S. Patent No.7,807,781, entitled "Inhibitors of Serine Protease Activity and Their Use in Methods and Compositions for Treatment of Viral Infections", was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 5, 2010 (the "New Patent").

The New Patent is part of the technology licensed to Omni Bio related to one of its technology license agreements with the University of Colorado-Denver. The New Patent covers the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) using one or more of 18 new peptides made up of five linked amino acids, as well as, related modifications of these peptides. These peptides and peptide combinations may act by reducing or preventing the spread or progression of HIV infection, and such peptides and peptide combinations are related to alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), which has been used in the treatment of viral infections. Dr. Leland Shapiro, the principal investigator for studies in support of the New Patent, discovered that these new peptides may function to prevent the spread of HIV from one patient to another or from a pregnant female to her unborn child. Research regarding these peptides is ongoing in Dr. Shapiro's laboratory.

"The issuance of this patent by the USPTO expands our proprietary technology platform and is an important milestone in developing innovative therapies to addresses potentially large and underserved markets," commented Charles Dinarello, MD, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Omni Bio. "The focus of this patent demonstrates that AAT has the potential to address a variety of indications, first and foremost, HIV-1 infection, and opens a proprietary, new and unique frontier for the development of potential new therapeutics in a variety of areas including bacterial as well as viral disorders, biohazards, diabetes and transplant rejection."

The New Patent will allow Omni Bio to develop treatments using the new peptides without a requirement to obtain additional licenses from third parties. In addition, these new peptides could qualify for the proposed FDA approval pathway for Biosimilar and Interchangeable Biological Products. This proposed process is expected to shorten the time needed for FDA approval if Omni Bio management decides to pursue the use of the new peptides in clinical studies for HIV-1 treatment.

Omni Bio's licensed technology portfolio also includes another issued patent related to HIV-1 treatment, U.S. Patent No. 6,849,605 that is in the same patent family as the New Patent and was issued on February 1, 2005. Although both of these patents concern HIV-1 treatment, the coverage related to U.S. Patent No. 6,849,605 is for new uses for known agents, and does not cover the peptides reported in the New Patent.