Intezyne announced the issuance of new patents that cover multiple dimensions of the company's revolutionary technology platform, the IVECT Method, in the major pharmaceutical markets of the United States, Europe, and Japan. All patents are wholly owned by Intezyne.

"This patent family covers the primary synthetic copolymers used to create Intezyne's lead product candidates. Intezyne also has claims to additional triblock copolymers pending in the US and major foreign markets."

United States, Europe, and Japan: Polymeric Micelles for Drug Delivery - Breitenkamp, K.; Sill, K.; Skaff, H.; Breitenkamp, R. US Patent Number is 7,638,558; European Patent Number EP190744; Japanese Patent Number is 4390845. Issued claims include composition of matter of drug-loaded micelles covering a wide range of best-in-class chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer

"This fundamental patent family covers the design and use of the IVECT Method as a micelle-based platform for drug delivery," explained Habib Skaff, chief executive officer of Intezyne. "Receiving these critical umbrella patents in three major markets marks a significant milestone for Intezyne and will facilitate the pending prosecution of this patent family in the global pharmaceutical markets."

Additional United States Patents: Synthesis of Hybrid Block Copolymers and Uses Thereof - Breitenkamp, K.; Sill, K. US Patent Number is 7,601,796. Issued claims are directed to composition of matter of key triblock copolymers.

"Synthetic triblock copolymers are the fundamental building blocks for encapsulating drugs using the IVECT Method," stated Kevin Sill, chief scientific officer of Intezyne. "This patent family covers the primary synthetic copolymers used to create Intezyne's lead product candidates. Intezyne also has claims to additional triblock copolymers pending in the US and major foreign markets."

Poly(ethylene glycol) Containing Chemically Disparate Endgroups - Breitenkamp, K.; Sill, K.; Skaff, H. US Patent Number is 7,560,588. Issued claims are directed to a specific range of bifunctional PEG derivatives.

"Using derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is common to drug delivery. Intezyne has created proprietary bifunctional PEG derivatives with chemically distinct endgroups that utilize Prof. K. Barry Sharpless' powerful 'click chemistry'," stated Dr Skaff. "These endgroups allow for the addition of a variety of tumour-specific targeting groups to the surface of the IVECT Micelle. Under the protection offered by this patent family, Intezyne can generate a range of IVECT Micelles specific to individual cancers, as well as apply this advanced chemistry to other 'PEGylation' technologies."

Heterobifunctional Poly(ethylene glycol) and Uses Thereof - Breitenkamp, K.; Sill, K.; Skaff, H. US Patent Number is 7,612,153. Issued claims broadly encompass composition of matter of proprietary bifunctional PEG derivatives.

"Intezyne has taken a stronger and broader position in drug delivery and PEGylation technology through this patent family, which covers specific, functionally diverse PEG derivatives," stated Dr Sill. "By exploiting the commonality of PEG in drug delivery and the versatility of click chemistry, Intezyne has extended its portfolio of proprietary PEG derivatives significantly, deepening the Company's pool of resources for creating new drug delivery solutions that can expand beyond the IVECT Method."

Encapsulated Amyloid-Beta Peptides - Breitenkamp, K.; Sill, K.; Skaff, H. US Patent Number is 7,618,944. Issued claims are directed to composition of matter for a variety of beta-amyloid proteins encapsulated by IVECT copolymers.

"Issuance of this patent family protects Intezyne's efforts should the Company choose to pursue the development or licensing of its technology for the purpose of creating a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease," stated Dr Skaff. "Since its inception, Intezyne has performed preclinical proof-of-concept studies to encapsulate numerous chemical and biological agents. The Company intends to continue prosecuting claims to those that demonstrate potential therapeutic value."

Intezyne is very active in its efforts to prosecute these and additional patents in major global pharmaceutical markets. Currently, the above four US patents are in various stages of prosecution in Europe and Japan, and several are in various stages of prosecution in additional territories, including Australia, Canada, India, Israel, Mexico, and New Zealand.

Intezyne is dedicated to treating cancer better by offering a new solution to oncologists, who must balance the anti-tumour activity of best-in-class chemotherapeutics with their severe toxicities.

Intezyne's IVECT Method is a unique and remarkably safe platform that has the potential to raise the bar in terms of what patients and oncologists can expect from chemotherapy.