Nov 22 2012
Medgenics, Inc. (NYSE Amex: MDGN and AIM: MEDU, MEDG) (the "Company"), the developer of BiopumpTM a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, today announced a patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) protecting the use of Medgenics' EPODURE Biopump technology for delivery of erythropoietin (EPO). Medgenics is developing EPODURE to address the need for safer, sustained treatment of anemia. The USPTO also allowed claims covering a similar method for delivery of clotting Factor VIII, underlying Medgenics' HEMODURE™ Biopump technology for sustained prophylactic treatment of hemophilia.
Similar claims covering EPODURE and HEMODURE have also been recently allowed in Japan, China, Korea and Australia.
In total, Medgenics' global portfolio now includes 36 patents issued, with 81 more pending.
Medgenics believes its approach to protein therapy has multiple benefits compared with current treatments, which include regular and costly injections of therapeutic proteins. Medgenics' technologies target the global protein therapy market which is forecast to reach $132 billion in 2013.
"As we continue to progress in our clinical trials and move forward in our business development efforts, the protection of our intellectual property becomes critical. We believe that receiving method patents and allowance of key claims for our Biopump™ system for the production and delivery of EPO and Factor VIII proteins increases the value of our intellectual property assets and our company," stated Andrew L. Pearlman, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Medgenics.
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