Dyax Corp. Issued Two Patents for Use of DX-88 in CTS
Tuesday January 9, 7:30 am ET
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dyax Corp. (Nasdaq:DYAX - News) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark office has issued two U.S. Patents relating to its program for on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). U.S. Patent No. 7,153,829 (issued December 26, 2006) covers methods for preventing or reducing perioperative blood loss due to surgery by administering its proprietary kallikrein inhibitor, DX-88 (ecallantide), as well as methods for preventing or reducing reperfusion injury with DX-88. U.S. Patent No. 7,064,107 (issued June 20, 2006) covers methods for preventing or reducing ischemia or systemic inflammatory response associated with surgery by administering a kallikrein inhibitor. The new patents provide Dyax with claims that directly cover the company's CTS program.
"The issuance of these two patents further protects Dyax's DX-88 franchise and significantly strengthens the company's existing patent portfolio," said Ivana Magovcevic-Liebisch, Dyax's General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications. "In addition to the two new patents, Dyax holds issued patents in the U.S. and abroad covering DX-88 and other related kallikrein inhibitors."
About Dyax
Dyax is focused on advancing novel biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on oncology and inflammatory indications. Dyax utilizes its proprietary drug discovery technology to identify antibody, small protein and peptide compounds for clinical development.
Dyax's lead product candidate is DX-88, a recombinant small protein that is currently in clinical trials for its therapeutic potential in two separate indications. In its joint venture with Genzyme Corporation, Dyax has successfully completed three Phase II trials and a Phase III trial of DX-88 for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). A confirmatory study, known as EDEMA4, is planned and expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007. DX-88 has orphan drug designation in the U.S. and E.U., as well as Fast Track designation in the U.S. for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE.
Independently, Dyax has successfully completed a Phase I/II trial of DX-88 for the prevention of blood loss during on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures. Dyax is currently planning a Phase II trial for further development of DX-88 in on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (CTS), including CABG and valve procedures.
Dyax identified DX-88 and other compounds in its pipeline using its patented phage display technology, which rapidly selects compounds that bind with high affinity and specificity to therapeutic targets. Dyax leverages this technology broadly with over 70 revenue generating licenses and collaborations for therapeutic discovery, as well as in non-core areas such as affinity separations, diagnostic imaging, and research reagents.
Dyax is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has antibody discovery facilities in Liege, Belgium. For online information about Dyax Corp., please visit www.dyax.com. |
