China National Intellectual Property Administration Grants New Patent Covering DUET-02, One of Three Key CpG-STAT3 Inhibitors Comprising the Duet Platform
September 21 2021 - 9:00AM
Scopus BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq:
“SCPS”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with
significant unmet medical need, announced today that the China
National Intellectual Property Administration has granted a new
patent covering DUET-02, one of three key CpG-STAT3 inhibitors
comprising the Duet Platform.
The new patent covers the compound and
composition, including phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide, and
methods of use for CpG-STAT3ASO, Duet’s CpG-STAT3 Antisense
inhibitor.
Alan Horsager, Ph.D., President and Chief
Executive Officer of Duet and President — Immuno-Oncology for
Scopus, stated, “This is an important milestone for Duet
Therapeutics as we continue to build our patent portfolio. The
Chinese biotech market is an important and integral part of the
global biotech industry. As referenced in a September 2021 Reuters
article, the combined market value of Chinese biotech firms listed
in Hong Kong, on Shanghai’s STAR board, and on Nasdaq had a
combined value of approximately $180 billion as of May 2021,
compared to just $1 billion in 2016. This rapid growth has been
driven by an increasing number of Chinese biotechs raising
significant amounts of capital in IPOs over the last several
years.”
Dr. Horsager added, “Duet continues to receive
inbound inquiries regarding the Duet Platform from interested
companies in Asia, including China. We believe China, as well as
Asia more broadly, will be a key market for immuno-oncology
therapeutics. The new patent positions Duet Therapeutics, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Scopus, to pursue opportunities arising
from China’s burgeoning biotech market.”
The new patent strengthens the patent portfolio
for DUET-02. DUET-02 is also covered by a granted patent in the
United States. Additionally, patent applications for DUET-02 are in
process for the European Union, Canada, and Japan.
The patent granted in China, entitled "Compounds
and Compositions Including
Phosphorothioated Oligodeoxynucleotide, and Methods of Use
Thereof," relates to the isolated compound, including a
phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) sequence conjugated to
an antisense oligonucleotide sequence (ASO), compositions of such a
compound, and method of treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases
(with or without stimulating immune response), method of immune
stimulation, and method of reducing activity of STAT transcription
factor, by one of the disclosed compounds or compositions.
About the Duet
Platform
Duet Therapeutics integrates the immunotherapy
assets of Scopus and Olimmune, creating the Duet Platform. Olimmune
was acquired by Scopus in June 2021. Duet is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Scopus.
The Duet Platform is comprised of three
distinctive, complementary CpG-STAT3 inhibitors:
• |
RNA silencing |
CpG-STAT3siRNA |
(“DUET-01”) |
• |
Antisense |
CpG-STAT3ASO |
(“DUET-02”) |
• |
DNA-binding inhibitor |
CpG-STAT3decoy |
(“DUET-03”) |
DUET-01 is in a Phase 1 clinical trial, as a
monotherapy, for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Duet expects to file
two INDs for DUET-02 in Q4 2022 in genitourinary and head &
neck cancers, with Phase 1 clinical trials beginning in Q1 2023 in
the United States. Duet is also evaluating combination therapies
with checkpoint inhibitors.
About Scopus BioPharma
Scopus BioPharma Inc., both directly and through
subsidiaries, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing transformational therapeutics for serious diseases with
significant unmet medical need. The company’s lead drug candidate
is a novel, targeted immuno-oncology RNA therapy for the treatment
of multiple cancers. This drug candidate is highly distinctive,
encompassing both RNA therapy and immunotherapy by synthetically
linking siRNA to an oligonucleotide TLR9 agonist, creating the
potential for targeted gene silencing with simultaneous TLR
stimulation and immune activation in the tumor microenvironment.
Additional STAT3-targeting immunotherapy drug candidates include
bifunctional antisense and DNA-binding inhibition therapies. In
addition, the company is developing additional drug candidates that
target the endocannabinoid system, including MRI-1867 for the
treatment systemic sclerosis. The company also seeks to identify
additional compelling technologies for potential acquisition,
in-licensing and/or other similar transactions. Receive updates by
following Scopus BioPharma on Twitter here.
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set forth in the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
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vary materially from our expectations and projections. Further,
there can be no assurance that the company will identify and/or
consummate any transaction relating to any additional
technologies.
Contacts
Rodd Leeds/David WaldmanCrescendo
Communications, LLCTel: (212) 671-1020Email:
SCPS@crescendo-ir.com
Hugh Burns/Delia Cannan/Nicholas LeasureReevemarkTel: (212)
433-4600Email: scopus@reevemark.com
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