Lorus Therapeutics Inc announced that one of its subsidiaries, NuChem Pharmaceuticals Inc, through an exclusive license with Harvard University, has been allowed a patent by the European Patent Office. This patent protects the company's intellectual property interests with regard to certain molecules that inhibit cancer progression characterized by abnormal vascularization.

"The protection of our interests in these novel molecules in the European market is essential in a global industry such as ours," said Dr. Jim Wright, chief executive officer, Lorus. "This patent strengthens Lorus' growing intellectual patent portfolio, and complements the company's immunotherapy, antisense, tumor suppressor and U-Sense approaches for designing new anticancer drugs, all of which have recently received patent allowances in major markets."

The patent, entitled "Use of Imidazole for the Treatment of Diseases Characterized by Neovascularization," protects the use of specific small molecules in a class of compounds called imidazoles for the treatment of angiogenic conditions where neovascularization (new blood vessel formation) contributes to the progression of the disease by supplying nourishment to the diseased area. The molecules described in this patent inhibit the growth of cells responsible for neovascularization.

The invention outlines solid tumors potentially treatable with the molecules described in the patent. For example, they include cancers of the brain, breast, cervix, colon, liver, lung, ovary, pancreas, muscle, skin, testicles, thyroid and kidney.