Mountain View Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("MVP") announced today its receipt
of European Patent No. 1 667 708 B1, titled "Polyethylene Glycol
Conjugates of Interferon-beta-1b with Enhanced in vitro Biological
Potency." The conjugates covered by this patent could enable less
frequent and better tolerated dosing of one of the most widely used
treatments worldwide for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis,
interferon-beta-1b.
MVP also announced the publication of an invited scientific report,
titled "Next-Generation PEGylation Enables Reduced Immunoreactivity
of PEG-Protein Conjugates," in the June 2012 issue of Drug
Development & Delivery.
"In contrast with other patents and publications relating to PEG
conjugates of interferon-beta, MVP's new European patent claims
polymer conjugates of interferon-beta-1b that have increased in
vitro potency, measured with human cancer cells in culture, and
methods of synthesis of these novel conjugates," stated Dr. Mark G. P.
Saifer, MVP's Vice President and Scientific Director. "If our
preclinical results are predictive of the performance of the PEG
conjugates in humans, conversion of interferon-beta-1b to a
long-acting form with higher potency could enhance the utility of this
drug in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, viral infections and other
conditions."
Patents disclosing and claiming PEG conjugates of interferon-beta-1b
have been granted to MVP previously in 13 countries outside of Europe.
The new European patent, with 46 claims including claims to methoxyPEG
("mPEG") and hydroxyPEG conjugates of non-glycosylated interferon-beta,
will be a key component of the company's partnering and licensing
activities.