Oxford BioMedica reports that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for a key patent application, which extends the protection of TroVax, its lead cancer vaccine
It is expected that the patent will be issued during 2006.
This patent is one of several granted and pending patents that protect the company's use of the 5T4 tumour antigen.
The notice of allowance covers immunotherapy approaches directed against the 5T4 tumour antigen.
5T4 is a tumour associated antigen that is expressed at high levels on a wide range of tumour types, including colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma and breast cancer, amongst others.
5T4 expression is frequently correlated with poor prognosis and metastatic spread.
Although present on tumour cells, 5T4 is not found on any essential organs.
These and other unique characteristics make 5T4 an ideal target for immunotherapy treatment in a wide range of cancer types.
Commenting on the notice of allowance news, Peter Nolan, Oxford BioMedica's senior vice president for commercial development said: "We are delighted to have been allowed such broad claims for this key US patent.
"This Notice of Allowance, together with several other granted and pending patents, provide clear protection in most major territories for our lead product, TroVax, as well as next generation cancer vaccines based on the 5T4 antigen.
"Today's news further strengthens our negotiating position with potential partners for TroVax as we progress into Phase III development."
