United Therapeutics Corporation announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued two patents that broaden United Therapeutics' patent protection for its lead drug Remodulin. U.S. Patent No. 6,521,212 relates to the method of treating peripheral vascular disease through the administration of Remodulin by inhalation and U.S. Patent No. 6,528,688 relates to an improved Remodulin manufacturing process.

"We are interested in news ways to administer Remodulin and expanding our existing patent protection in peripheral vascular disease, and this new use patent advances both of these objectives," said Roger Jeffs, President and Chief Operating Officer of United Therapeutics. "With respect to the new process patent, our Chicago manufacturing team is constantly developing improved processes for making Remodulin and this patent strengthens our core protection on how Remodulin is made."

Remodulin received United States Food and Drug Administration approval on May 21, 2002 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with NYHA Class II-IV symptoms to diminish symptoms associated with exercise.