Vical Incorporated announced today the issuance of two Canadian patents on the company's core technology, which involves direct administration of polynucleotide genetic material such as DNA or RNA.
Canadian patents No. 2,425,745 and No. 2,049,287 cover such administration with and without cationic lipids, respectively. Covered uses of the technology include vaccines, therapeutics, and research and development applications.
Vical holds issued U.S. and foreign patents concerning this core technology and related enhancements, applications, and manufacturing processes. A number of vaccine and therapeutic applications of the technology are currently under development by Vical and its collaborative partners, including Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi-Aventis Group, Merial Ltd. (a joint venture between Merck and Sanofi-Aventis), Corautus Genetics Inc., Aqua Health Ltd. (an affiliate of Novartis Animal Health Inc.), and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Vijay B. Samant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vical, said, "We are pleased to establish broad intellectual property coverage in Canada comparable to our core technology coverage in the United States. These Canadian patents extend our existing and expanding patent estate in another key international region and further validate Vical's global leadership position in non-viral gene delivery."