Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported the issuance of two U.S. patents that significantly broaden the company's intellectual property leadership in the field of targeted anti-aminophospholipid agents.
The new patents grant Peregrine broad anti-viral method claims using a range of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) binding agents, including PE-binding peptides attached to anti-viral agents as well as those conjugated to antibodies or other substances.
"These are significant patents for Peregrine that substantially expand our intellectual property portfolio in the field of aminophospholipid-targeting agents," said Dr. Shelley Fussey, vice president of intellectual property at Peregrine. "These anti-PE agents appear to have anti-viral properties similar to the anti-phosphatidylserine (PS) monoclonal antibody bavituximab that we currently are testing in clinical trials in HCV patients and in preclinical studies for HIV and other viral infections. We are especially pleased at the breadth of the issued claims, which provide Peregrine with U.S. patent coverage for methods of combating all relevant viruses using the claimed anti-PE peptide conjugates, either used alone or in combination with other anti-viral drugs. As peptide conjugates, anti-PE agents may be well-suited for use in some of these broad anti-viral applications."