Prana Biotechnology announced that it has secured key PBT2 patents in Europe and the United States.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a composition of matter patent for selected 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds, including its lead clinical asset, PBT2, in the United States. The patent entitled ‘8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives’ also covers pharmaceutical compositions containing PBT2 and selected 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds.

The USPTO has additionally extended the term of this patent by approximately 2.5 years resulting in an expiry date calculated to be 21 December 2025. This expiry date may in the future be further extended by the application of pharmaceutical extension of term provisions in that country.

Since previously announcing the grant of the related European case, the company is also pleased to confirm the expiry of the mandatory 9 month post-grant opposition period whereby third parties can register objections. Absent any third party opposition, the European case has now been placed on the Register of European patents.

The European patent has a twenty year term expiring on 16 July 2023, with a possible extension of term of up to 5 years under supplementary protection provisions.

Prana has announced new results highlighting the therapeutic opportunity for PBT2 in Huntington’s disease in addition to Alzheimer’s disease. The announcement was made during a Hot Topic session at the ICAD meeting in Honolulu in July 2010.

Geoffrey Kempler, Prana’s executive chairman, said “The grant and extension of PBT2 patent rights in the United States together with securing European patent rights marks a critical milestone in our commercialization plans, offering opportunity in both Huntington disease and Alzheimer’s disease”.

Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialise research into Alzheimer’s Disease and other major age-related neurodegenerative disorders.