PolyTherics granted European patent for PEGylation technology

UK-based biopharmaceuticals company, PolyTherics, which works with biologics to improve their pharmacokinetic properties, has been granted its first European patent covering the targeted PEGylation of proteins. The patent claims the use of a unique linker developed at PolyTherics that enables precision attachment of PEG to natural disulfide bonds in proteins.

A second patent has also been allowed by the United States Patent Office covering the targeted PEGylation of proteins. Issued just two weeks after the allowance of the first patent within Europe, this allowance protects PolyTherics" PEGylation technology in the two largest pharmaceutical markets in the world.

The patent claims the use of a unique linker developed at PolyTherics that enables precision attachment of PEG to natural disulfide bonds in proteins. Trademarked as TheraPEG the technology allows proteins with proven therapeutic efficacy such as Interferons, erythropoietin and antibody fragments to remain active and potent in the body for longer, resulting in less frequent dosing without loss of biological activity.

'Having received the allowance of our first patent less than two weeks ago, it is a real thrill to have this second notification from the US Patent Office so quickly,' said Keith Powell, ceo of PolyTherics.'This is a huge achievement for us and underpins both the novelty of our third generation pegylation technology and the quality of the underlying patent submission.'

The technology has already been licensed to several partners to develop and commercialise their therapeutic proteins in PEGylated form.