KemPharm, a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs, announced further enhancements to KemPharm's US and global intellectual property estate governing its portfolio of prodrug product candidates with the receipt of an initial patent issued for KP606, an oxycodone prodrug, as well as an additional composition of matter patent to enhance the existing family of patents related to KP511, a prodrug of hydromorphone.

“This first patent for KP606 continues to strengthen our patent estate of intellectual property which underpins our prodrug product candidate portfolio,” said Travis Mickle, Ph.D., KemPharm president and chief executive officer. "KP606 is a New Molecular Entity, or NME, prodrug of oxycodone, which is currently in preclinical development for the potential treatment of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Our growing patent estate is predicated on allowing us ample time to commercially develop our product candidates, which we believe offers the potential of both an immediate and a sustained protected value proposition.”

KemPharm was recently issued US Patent No. 9,850,252 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent application related to KP606 entitled “Benzoic acid, benzoic acid derivatives and heteroaryl carboxylic acid conjugates of oxycodone, prodrugs, methods of making and use thereof.” The patent, which extends through 2035, provides a compound, and compositions thereof, of oxycodone conjugated to 6-ibuprofen.

In addition, KemPharm was also recently issued US Patent 9,849,185 for its patent application in the KP511-related family of patents. The patent, entitled "Benzoic acid, benzoic acid derivatives and heteroaryl carboxylic acid conjugates of hydromorphone, prodrugs, methods of making and use thereof." provides a compound, and compositions thereof, of 3-benzoate-hydromorphone.