Rib-X granted patent for novel oxazolidinone in China

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the issuance of a key antibiotic patent in China.

The State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China has issued Chinese Patent Number ZL 2004 8 0021883.9 to Rib-X. This patent provides composition of matter protection for Rib-X's novel oxazolidinone antibiotic, radezolid. Rib-X has established a broad patent portfolio related to radezolid, including the issuance of composition of matter for radezolid in the US. The Company anticipates issuance of additional patents in all major and emerging markets.

"This Chinese patent strengthens Rib-X's existing intellectual property portfolio and underscores our ability to successfully design and develop antibiotics that overcome resistant bacteria," said Susan Froshauer, Ph.D., President and CEO of Rib-X Pharmaceuticals. "China is the world's largest emerging pharmaceutical market, and the issuance of this patent enhances Rib-X's commercial opportunities in this important region of the world."

Radezolid is a novel oxazolidinone that was discovered using Rib-X's proprietary discovery process and was designed to expand the bacterial spectrum and improve the utility of this class of antibiotics relative to the only other oxazolidinone marketed in the world, Zyvox(R) (linezolid). Rib-X is developing both oral and IV formulations for use in serious hospital gram positive infections, including those caused by MRSA and linezolid- and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Radezolid is the subject of a second ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial for community acquired pneumonia (CAP). This compound has been shown to be microbiologically more active than linezolid against Gram-positive organisms, including potent activity against linezolid resistant bacteria, in prior studies.

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