Published on September 25, 2012 at 8:09 AM
Aeterna Zentaris Inc.
(NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced that the
European Patent Office ("EPO") has granted a patent for the use of the
ghrelin agonist, AEZS-130, related to methods and kits for use in
relation to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency ("GHD") in a
human or animal subject. Filed on February 19, 2007, the patent (EP
#1 984 744 B1) titled, "Methods and Kits to Diagnose Growth Hormone Deficiency", was effective as of September 19, 2012, following its announcement in
the European Patent Bulletin, and will expire on February 19, 2027. A
similar patent has already been granted in the U.S.
Juergen Engel, Ph.D., Aeterna Zentaris President and CEO, commented,
"This patent in Europe, along with the one already granted in the U.S.,
are key elements to ensure the protection of AEZS-130 for the diagnosis
of GHD, in the world's two largest markets. We now look forward to
filing a New Drug Application in the near future in the U.S. for
AEZS-130, which could become the first approved oral diagnostic test
for adults with GHD".
SOURCE AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.