EPO grants patent to Aeterna Zentaris’ AEZS-130 for diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency

Sep 25 2012

Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced that the European Patent Office ("EPO") has granted a patent for the use of the ghrelin agonist, AEZS-130, related to methods and kits for use in relation to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency ("GHD") in a human or animal subject. Filed on February 19, 2007, the patent (EP #1 984 744 B1) titled, "Methods and Kits to Diagnose Growth Hormone Deficiency", was effective as of September 19, 2012, following its announcement in the European Patent Bulletin, and will expire on February 19, 2027. A similar patent has already been granted in the U.S.

Juergen Engel, Ph.D., Aeterna Zentaris President and CEO, commented, "This patent in Europe, along with the one already granted in the U.S., are key elements to ensure the protection of AEZS-130 for the diagnosis of GHD, in the world's two largest markets. We now look forward to filing a New Drug Application in the near future in the U.S. for AEZS-130, which could become the first approved oral diagnostic test for adults with GHD".

SOURCE AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.