PolyMedix, Inc, an emerging biotechnology company developing acute care products for infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent assigned to PolyMedix relating to angiogenesis inhibitors. The patent, number 7,553,876, entitled 'Polycationic Compounds and Uses Thereof', relates to therapeutic uses of PolyMedix compounds for inhibiting angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis is a process involving the growth of new blood vessels. The abnormal growth of new blood vessels is associated with many diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common form of blindness in the elderly, cancers, and inflammation. Inhibiting abnormal angiogenesis may be useful therapy for these conditions. Lucentis and Macugen are two products currently approved for treatment of AMD. PolyMedix's angiogenesis inhibitors may have a mechanism of action distinct from compounds that only inhibit VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor).
"This is an exciting accomplishment for PolyMedix. This patent represents the first allowance from our applications relating to angiogenesis inhibition, and another compelling example of the efficiency and capabilities of our drug discovery approach," commented Nicholas Landekic, president and chief executive officer.
PolyMedix is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on the development of novel drugs and biomaterials for the treatment of infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders.