MediGene AG announced that the European Patent Office has decided to grant a further patent on Veregen (Polyphenon E ointment). The patent covers the application of Veregen in the treatment of skin and tumour diseases induced by papilloma viruses.

Till now, patent protection for Veregen was limited to the application of tea catechins for the production of a drug for the treatment of tissue infected by human papilloma viruses. This comprehensive patent was filed by the Cancer Institute Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Japanese company Mitsui Norin, and licensed exclusively by MediGene.

The new European patent (EP 1448186) affords additional patent protection through the end of 2022, and also has the possibility of term extension.

Dr Peter Heinrich, MediGene's chief executive officer, commented, "With this additional patent Veregen ointment is now protected by two independent families of patents. We are now fully prepared for the next steps with Veregen, notably its planned European commercialization."

Veregen (for the treatment of genital warts) contains a concentrate of catechins, with a defined composition, extracted from green tea leaves.

MediGene is the first German biotech company to have drugs on the market, which are being distributed by partner companies.