To all: another U.S. patent for Stressgen. PR:
New U.S. composition patent firmly solidifies Stressgen's position in heat shock protein
fusion technology
Stressgen Broadens Heat Shock Protein Patent Estate With Issuance of Second U.S.
Patent
SAN DIEGO, CA, Jan. 15 /CNW/ - Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation (TSE:SSB)
announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent Number
6,338,952, for which the Company has an exclusive worldwide license from the Whitehead
Institute for Biomedical Research. This new patent builds upon the "method of use" patent
issued earlier this month (US 6,335,183) by granting exclusivity for the compositions
comprising heat shock fusion proteins, as well as the DNA encoding for such fusion proteins,
and methods for manufacturing fusion proteins.
The patent contains broad claims that cover fusion proteins comprised of a heat shock
protein fused to any antigen. Further, there are specific claims to fusion proteins comprised
of heat shock proteins fused to viral, cancer or HIV antigens.
"We are excited to announce the expansion of our U.S. patent estate," said Daniel L.
Korpolinski, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation.
"This new composition of matter patent, coupled with our previously announced method of use
patent, firmly solidifies our position in the field of heat shock protein fusions. The pre-GATT
17-year exclusivity of this patent should help ensure that our technology for developing
multiple heat shock protein fusions will remain proprietary to 2019. We believe our patent
estate will continue to expand in 2002. Our growing intellectual property portfolio, combined
with the strong, positive data coming from our clinical trials, contributes two important
ingredients necessary for the successful launch of HspE7, our lead fusion product candidate."
About Stressgen Biotechnologies
Stressgen is a public biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of innovative stress protein-based 'fusion' immunotherapeutics. The
Company is developing a broad range of products for the treatment of viral infections and
related cancers. In addition to developing HspE7 for HPV-related diseases, the Company also
has a program to evaluate heat shock protein fusions in hepatitis B and has initiated research
studies to evaluate its heat shock protein 'fusion' technology in the treatment of the herpes
simplex virus and HIV. Stressgen is also an internationally recognized commercial supplier of
research products used by scientists worldwide for the study of cellular stress, apoptosis,
oxidative stress and neurobiology.
HspE7 is a novel immunotherapeutic for the treatment of diseases caused by HPV, one of
the most common sexually transmitted diseases, estimated to infect approximately 50 percent
of the sexually active population. There are 5.5 million new cases of genital HPV infection
diagnosed per year in the U.S. alone, of which over 1 million represent cases of genital
warts. In addition to warts, genital HPV infection can cause cervical cancer and a variety of
precancerous conditions, including anal and cervical dysplasia.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
including statements regarding the expected issuance of patents, potential uses for the
Company's product candidates and the Company's ability to bring therapeutics to market.
Factors that may cause the ultimate results or our performance to be materially different
from those implied by such statements include complexities in the patent issuance process and
difficulties obtaining regulatory approvals. These factors and others are more fully discussed
in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with Canadian securities regulatory
authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information: Donna Slade, Director, Investor Relations, 10241 Wateridge Circle
Drive, Suite C200, San Diego, CA USA 92121, Tel: (858) 202-4900, Fax: (858)
450-6849, dslade@stressgen.com; Jennifer Matterson, Communications Coordinator,
350-4243 Glanford Avenue, Victoria, BC CANADA V8Z 4B9, Tel: (250) 744-2811, Fax:
(250) 744-3331, jmatterson@stressgen.com
newswire.ca
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