Neogenix Oncology is pleased to announce that it will be granted a European Patent ("EP") relating to its NEO-301 antibody (also known as 31.1), to take effect beginning September 23, 2011. The European Patent Office issued a "Decision to Grant" the company's patent application, designated as EP Patent No. 02726672.5, on December 23, 2010. This patent will be in force until March 15, 2022.
NEO-301 specifically binds a variant of the A33 tumor antigen which is a target expressed on the majority of colorectal cancers, and was also found to be expressed by other cancers such as pancreatic cancer.
The allowed claims in the EP application broadly cover NEO-301 in naked and labeled form for use in treating pancreatic cancer as well as medicaments containing this antibody for treating pancreatic cancer. In addition, the allowed claims broadly cover the use of NEO-301 for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and in diagnostic kits for detecting pancreatic cancer. This allowance expands the company's patent protection relating to NEO-301 which includes US Patent No. 5,688,657 (reissued as RE39, 760) and numerous other pending patent applications.
This allowance further solidifies the company's strategic focus and commitment to obtaining regulatory approval and patenting novel and improved immunologics for the treatment and detection of colorectal and pancreatic cancers. In a prior related announcement on November 1, 2010, the Company announced that they had received Orphan Drug status from the FDA for another of its proprietary antibodies, Ensituximab (NPC-1C or NEO-101), for use in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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