Patent for miscarriage drug

Published: 22-Aug-2006

Australian biotechnology company Gropep has secured a European patent for its drug PV903, designed to prevent recurrent miscarriages.


Australian biotechnology company Gropep has secured a European patent for its drug PV903, designed to prevent recurrent miscarriages.

The patent gives GroPep market exclusivity until 2018 and complements two US patents active until 2020. GroPep's drug is currently being tested for safety and efficacy in Phase 1 clinical trials.

PV903 is a drug administered as a gel, and is based on a protein found in semen that is thought to be responsible for instructing a mother's immune system to tolerate the implantation of an embryo.

'GroPep intends to seek a international drug firm as partner to further develop the drug,' company ceo Bob Finder said.

'Currently there is no treatment for recurrent miscarriage and the estimated global market for the drug is about A$1bn," Finder added.

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