Deutsche Biotech Innovativ AG (DBI), a biotechnology company, has received the notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the key patent, which provides comprehensive protection in the treatment of sepsis, shock and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) by the drug candidate Adrecizumab.

"The notice of allowance in relation to the US patent is a key component of our strategic patent portfolio, and ensures effective market protection for our first-in-class agent for the treatment of sepsis," commented DBI board member Dr. Bernd Wegener.

Adrecizumab is a humanised antibody and the first therapeutic agent which stabilises the entire body in the case of severe sepsis, since it does not completely block the bioactivity of the body's own peptide hormone Adrenomedullin (ADM), but balances it to a beneficial level. Adrecizumab is designed for the causal and safe treatment of sepsis patients. Following the highly successful process and the promising results of the preclinical studies of safety and efficacy, DBI is currently preparing for the clinical phase I study, expected to start at the end of 2015.