Introgen Therapeutics has announced that a patent with broad claims directed to combination therapy with the p53 gene and conventional chemotherapy or radiation was issued in China. Patent ZL95192776.0 entitled, "Compositions Comprising DNA Damaging Agents and p53," was issued to the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System and is exclusively licensed to Introgen.
David L. Parker, Ph.D., J.D., Introgen's senior vice president of intellectual property, said, "Strategically, this is an important patent that further compliments our existing international patent portfolio. This development augments our goal to address significant populations of cancer patients receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments, who may also be candidates for p53 therapy."
In 1994, Introgen entered into a license agreement with The University of Texas System and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, a component of The University of Texas System, and one of the largest academic cancer centers in the world. The licensed technologies include some of Introgen's most important product candidates, including its p53 technologies.
Parker continued, "We now have two issued Chinese patents covering adenoviral p53 products and their use in the clinic. We have a number of additional pending applications in China and other countries in Asia and around the world, and hope to report new patent issuances in the near future."
Introgen's strategic vision for its intellectual property portfolio is to emphasize a net of worldwide protection, complementing markets that Introgen ultimately envisions for its products. Thus, Introgen has endeavored to file its more important applications in many different national markets throughout Europe and in Asia. The Chinese patent that is reported here mirrors similar filings throughout these strategically important jurisdictions and is exemplary of Introgen's strategy.