Singapore, Jul 2, 2009: KAI Pharmaceuticals, a US-based drug discovery and development company, has acquired the collection of issued and pending patents from Progen Pharmaceuticals. Progen is an Australia-based biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of cancer therapeutics.

The patents claim compositions and methods related to transporter molecules that can deliver compounds, including peptides such as those being developed in the KAI pipeline, across biological membranes and into cells.

According to KAI Pharmaceuticals, the acquisition would enable them to strengthen its position in the field of peptide therapeutics. It would also allow the company to broaden its IP estate covering peptide-based therapies.