Nutra Pharma Corporation, a biotechnology company that is developing treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS), Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) and Pain, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ReceptoPharm, has received approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent describing the composition of matter and the use of neurotoxins for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
“This is the third patent to be issued to our ReceptoPharm subsidiary in the last 16 months,” commented Rik J Deitsch, chairman and CEO of Nutra Pharma Corporation. “These patents are key to the continuing development of our pipeline and provide the value for eventual commercialization of the technology or out-licensing of the drugs. We currently own or license twelve patents that protect a broad range of drug and medical device technologies,” he explained.
The patent (US 8,034,777), titled “Modified anticholinergic neurotoxins as modulators of the autoimmune reaction,” describes a composition of matter and method of its use for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in humans. The composition is a modified anticholinergic alpha-neurotoxin.
“This patent represents a key addition to our intellectual property portfolio,” commented Dr. Paul Reid, CEO of ReceptoPharm. “While the Company has been focused on our pain therapies, we continue to support our deep, clinical pipeline. We will be supporting further pre-clinical and clinical studies in an effort to move our MS therapy forward and to eventual approval,” he concluded.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an autoimmune disease that primarily causes central nervous system problems. In MS, the insulating fatty material surrounding the nerve fibers, also known as myelin, which functions to speed signalling from one end of the nerve cell to the other, is attacked by cells of the immune system causing problems in signal transduction. According to the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis, a national nonprofit organization, 400,000 people in the US are affected by MS and another 2 million globally. Nutra Pharma's MS drug, RPI-78M, has shown efficacy in animal models (EAE) for MS and the Company is planning new animal studies to gain more insight into the levels of protection that the drugs afford. In one study conducted in August 2007, all members of an untreated animal control group developed signs of disease with different levels of paralysis/muscle weakness. A similar group in the August 2007 study treated with RPI-78M showed no disease in 90% of the animals in both acute and chronic applications of the test. Moreover, there were no toxicities reported though the animals received doses the equivalent of 280 times a human dose.