Bionomics Limited, a biotechnology company based in Adelaide, Australia, announced that it had filed a further international patent application that covers 496 proprietary angiogenesis drug targets.

The international patent application applies to genes that Bionomics has identified using advanced technologies such as microarray and bioinformatics analyses. These technologies have enabled Bionomics to identify novel angiogenesis genes that have not been identified by other companies or research groups.

The patent application claims that these genes are potentially valuable targets for drugs that treat cancer by inhibiting blood vessel growth in tumours. The patent application extends to cover a range of drugs that may be developed for these genes, including therapeutic antibodies.

"Bionomics is responding to the substantial market opportunities represented by the new approaches to treating cancer by inhibiting angiogenesis," said Dr Deborah Rathjen, CEO and managing director of Bionomics. "By identifying new drug targets for angiogenesis, Bionomics is in a strong position to meet the needs of pharmaceutical companies and other biotechnology companies that are developing this new class of anti-cancer treatments."

Dr Rathjen stated that this international patent application, if granted and subject to appropriate commercial arrangements, may entitle Bionomics to receive royalties and other payments from the development and sale of drugs relating to these genes.

"This patent application builds on our existing portfolio of proprietary angiogenesis genes we have identified from our Angene platform," added Dr Rathjen, "and brings Bionomics closer to achieving commercial returns from its investment in cancer research and development."

Bionomics now has a total of 15 patent applications covering over 600 cancer and angiogenesis related genes.