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Protagonist wins patent for IBD peptide drug candidate
Protagonist Therapeutics announced that two of its peptide drug candidates received new U.S. patents.
“These new patents further strengthen the long-term intellectual property protection for the clinical-stage assets, both of which have emerged from our innovative peptide technology platform,” Dinesh Patel, PhD, Protagonist’s president and CEO said in a press release.
The first patent is for the methods of treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with PTG-100, an orally stable Alpha4beta7 integrin peptide inhibitor. PTG-100 is currently in a global phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC).
Researchers believe alpha4beta7 integrin is among the most GI-specific biological targets for IBD based on its binding to MAdCAM-1, a cell membrane protein found primarily in the GI vasculature, according to an earlier release issued by the manufacturer.
The new patent adds to two others that provide protection for Protagonist’s Alpha4beta7 integrin peptide inhibitors, including PTG-100, per the press release.
An additional patent was granted to PTG-300, an injectable peptide hepcidin mimetic, for the treatment of anemia in iron overload disorders. It recently completed a phase 1 clinical trial on healthy volunteers, and Protagonist plans to start phase 2 trials in patients with beta-thalassemia and myelodysplastic syndrome in 2018. – by Alex Young
Disclosures: Patel is employed by Protagonist.