Biomoda granted Mexican patent for proprietary porphyrin-based compound

Cancer diagnostics company Biomoda, Inc. (OTCBB: BMOD) (www.biomoda.com) has been granted a Mexican patent for its proprietary porphyrin-based compound that binds to cancer cells and causes them to fluoresce red under ultraviolet light.

“We are strategically building our IP portfolio with an eye on the eventual commercialization and marketing of our CyPath® diagnostic assay to address the global issue of lung cancer mortality.”

Issued by the Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Mexican patent #269352, "Compositions and Methods for Detecting Pre-Cancerous Conditions In Cell And Tissue Samples Using 5, 10, 15, 20-Tetrakis (Carboxyphenol) Porphine," is similar to Biomoda's U.S. patent 6,838,248, which was issued in 2005. Foreign equivalents are now effective in Mexico, Japan and Australia and are pending in Europe and Canada.

"This patent represents another step in protecting our intellectual property rights internationally," said Biomoda President John Cousins. "We are strategically building our IP portfolio with an eye on the eventual commercialization and marketing of our CyPath® diagnostic assay to address the global issue of lung cancer mortality."

The 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (carboxyphenyl) porphine, or TCPP, is the foundation for several Biomoda product lines and medical diagnostics. The company is concluding Phase II clinical trials of its first product, an in-vitro test for the detection of early-stage lung cancer, in which study volunteers provide deep-lung sputum samples to be screened for cancer cells with the CyPath® assay. Results are compared to CT scans and Pap stains read by independent radiologists and cytopathologists, respectively, to confirm accuracy.

Biomoda is seeking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its cytology-based screening technology as a Class III medical device. Pending FDA approval, CyPath® is for investigational use only.