Singapore, Aug 24, 2010: Australian company, Prana Biotechnology, has secured key PBT2 patents in the Europe and the US.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a composition of matter patent for selected 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds, including its lead clinical asset, PBT2, in the United States. The patent entitled ‘8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives’ also covers pharmaceutical compositions containing PBT2 and selected 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds.

The USPTO has additionally extended the term of this patent by approximately 2.5 years resulting in an expiry date of December 2025. According to the company, this expiry date may, in the future, be further extended by the application of pharma extension of term provisions in that country.

Regarding the grant of patent in Europe, Prana has announced that the nine month post-grant opposition period whereby third parties can register objections,has now expired. Thus, the European case has now been placed on the Register of European patents. The European patent has a twenty year term expiring on 16 July 2023, with a possible extension of term of up to five years, under the supplementary protection provisions.

The company also recently announced new results highlighting the therapeutic opportunity for PBT2 in Huntington’s disease in addition to Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr Geoffrey Kempler, Prana’s executive chairman, said “The grant and extension of PBT2 patent rights in the United States together with securing European patent rights, marks a critical milestone in our commercialization plans, offering opportunity in both Huntington disease and Alzheimer’s disease.”