PharmAust secures key European anti-cancer patent

ASX-listed biotech PharmAust has further bolstered its intellectual property safeguards around the company’s anti-cancer research after securing a key European patent over a promising cancer therapy agent.

PharmAust told the ASX on Tuesday it had been granted the core patent in Europe relating to the use of “aminoacetonitrile derivatives” as potent kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

Aminoacetonitrile derivatives include the Elanco compound Monepantel, or MPL as it is commonly known.

Montepantel, which is Pharmaust’s lead development drug has already shown positive signs in initial clinical trials.

The announcement from the clinical-stage oncology company comes after it recently inked a deal with leading Japanese pharma, Nihon Nohyaku Co Ltd, giving PharmAust rights to over 50 promising anti-cancer patents.

It also follows the grant of similar patents, already locked down by PharmAust, in significant global territories including the US, Australia and China as the Perth-based company moves to shore up its IP protection worldwide.

PharmAust chief executive Richard Hopkins said: “Allowance of this method of use patent secures PharmAust’s core intellectual property (IP) in another key world market.

“We’re delighted with this outcome as it adds to the breadth and commercial value of our patent portfolio.”

Pharmaust is currently reformulating MPL to improve its taste and increase the dosage capacity of the drug, which has performed well as an anti-cancer treatment in phase-one human and canine clinical trials.