Jan. 11, 2001--Corixa Corporation (Nasdaq:CRXA - news), a research- and development-based biotechnology company, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the Company a patent covering certain of its discoveries involving its Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine development program.
Chlamydia trachomatis infection causes the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. The infection can lead to female infertility and has recently been associated with the development of cervical cancer. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in the United States alone, over 4 million new cases arise each year. The patent, U.S. Patent Number 6,166,177, entitled ``Compounds and Methods for the Treatment and Diagnosis of Chlamydial Infection,'' includes claims covering the composition of matter of a specific chlamydia antigen that might be useful for both vaccine and diagnostic applications.
``This patent issuance further underscores the breadth and the progress of our infectious disease research programs currently targeting a number of critical infections, including chlamydia,'' said Steven Gillis, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Corixa. ``The continued development of our chlamydia vaccine program, including ongoing protection of our intellectual property, is an important step toward potential product commercialization and treatment of this pervasive disease.'' |
