USPTO Grants Composition of Matter Patent to Achillion for Small Molecule Complement Alternative Pathway Factor D Inhibitors
March 21 2017 - 4:05PM
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACHN)
today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
has issued the first U.S. Patent to Achillion resulting from its
complement factor D research program. U.S. Patent No. 9,598,446 has
been granted with claims to compositions of matter for compounds
that inhibit complement factor D activity, a key mediator in the
complement alternative pathway (AP). In addition, the USPTO has
issued Notices of Allowance of four additional U.S. patent
applications owned by Achillion, also with claims to compositions
of matter, that are expected to issue as patents over the next few
months.
“Achillion’s aim is to establish a broad patent
portfolio for its complement program. With the granting of this
first patent we are pleased that the USPTO has confirmed that
Achillion possesses a multitude of patentable complement factor D
inhibitors,” commented Milind Deshpande, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of Achillion. “As a leader in AP biology, we are
proud to have been the first to clinically demonstrate, in healthy
volunteers, the ability to suppress AP activity following oral
dosing of our complement factor D inhibitor, ACH-4471. The receipt
of this patent, along with a number of additional patent
applications under review by the USPTO, strengthens our position as
a leader in factor D inhibitors for the potential treatment of
AP-mediated diseases, such as C3G, PNH and geographic atrophy.”
About the Achillion Alternative Pathway
Complement Factor D Platform
Achillion has leveraged its internal discovery
capabilities and a novel complement-related platform to develop
small molecule factor D inhibitor compounds that target the
complement AP. Factor D is an essential serine protease involved in
the AP, a part of the innate immune system. Achillion's complement
platform is focused on seeking to advance small molecule compounds
that inhibit factor D and can potentially be used in the treatment
of immune-related diseases in which the AP plays a critical role.
Potential indications currently being evaluated for these compounds
include paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), C3
glomerulopathy (C3G), and geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form
of dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD).
About Achillion
Pharmaceuticals
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHN) is a
science-driven, patient-focused company seeking to leverage its
strengths across the continuum from discovery to commercialization
in its goal of providing better treatments for people with serious
diseases. The company employs a highly-disciplined discovery and
development approach that has allowed it to pursue best-in-class
oral antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and build a
platform of potent and specific complement factor D inhibitors for
AP-mediated diseases. Achillion is rapidly advancing its efforts to
become a fully-integrated pharmaceutical company with a goal of
bringing life-saving medicines to patients with rare diseases. More
information is available at http://www.achillion.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.
Achillion may use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,”
“target,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,”
“can,” “could,” “focus,” “will,” “look forward,” “goal,” “may,”
“potential,” and similar expressions to identify such
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also
include statements about: Achillion’s ability to obtain and
maintain patent protection for its drug candidates and the expected
benefit of its complement factor D inhibitor intellectual property
portfolio; the potential benefits of, and potential indications
for, Achillion’s compounds that inhibit factor D; and statements
concerning Achillion’s strategic goals, efforts, plans, and
prospects. Among the important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other
things, Achillion’s ability to: complete the patent process such
that patents issue from the Notices of Allowance with respect to
composition of matter claims for compounds that inhibit complement
factor D activity; advance the preclinical and clinical development
of its complement factor D inhibitors under the timelines it
projects in current and future preclinical studies and clinical
trials; obtain and maintain patent protection for its drug
candidates and the freedom to operate under third party
intellectual property; demonstrate in any current and future
clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of
its drug candidates; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory
approvals; establish commercial manufacturing arrangements;
identify, enter into and maintain collaboration agreements with
third-parties, including the current collaboration with Janssen;
compete successfully in the markets in which it seeks to develop
and commercialize its product candidates and future products;
manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the substantial
additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; and
successfully execute on its business strategies. These and other
risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and any
subsequent SEC filings.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in this
press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date of
this press release and should not be relied upon as representing
its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty
to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by
applicable law.
Investors & Media:
Glenn Schulman, PharmD, MPH
Executive Director, Investor Relations
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 752-5510
gschulman@achillion.com
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