Important Patent Application lodged for Hepatitis B drug

[Guest guest]

http://www.4-traders.com/news/27-09-2011-Important-Patent-Application-lodged-for\

-Hepatitis-B-drug--13812889/

09/26/2011 | 10:45 pm

27/09/2011 Important Patent Application lodged for Hepatitis B drug

ASX Announcement Agenix Files Important Patent Application for Lead China

Hepatitis B drug

Melbourne, Australia 27 September 2011, Agenix (ASX: AGX) said it had filed an

international method of manufacture patent application under the Patent

ation Treaty (PCT) for its hepatitis B drug AGX-1009. The application

covers the manufacturing process of a compound that uses the same active

ingredient, Tenofovir, used in the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved

drug marketed by Gilead Sciences under the trade name Viread.

The international application aims to provide further long-term protection for

the company’s platform hepatitis B drug compounds through until 2030. Agenix

already has a registered patent to protect the AGX-1009 compound in China

through to 2026.

Like Viread, AGX-1009 is a so-called ‘prodrug' of Tenofovir. Gilead’s ‘prodrug’

of Tenofovir was approved for treatment of hepatitis B in the US in 2008 and in

numerous countries globally but is not yet approved in China. Both drugs contain

Tenofovir but have different molecular side chains to activate that compound.

Both drugs work by blocking an enzyme the hepatitis virus needs to replicate.

Agenix will initiate a Phase I human safety trial of AGX-1009 in 2012. The

clinical trial application will be made with assistance from the Institute of

Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB) of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in

Beijing, from whom Agenix purchased the original compound patent.

AGX-1009 is one of several new drug candidates supported by the Chinese

Government’s State Special Funds for important new drugs which aims to expedite

new mass market therapies for major diseases in China. Gilead's version is

expected to be released on the Chinese market in 2014.

Agenix Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Weston said, “This

important patent application confers further certainty in China and increases

the commercial value of this promising treatment for hepatitis B in geographies

outside of China.”

“Agenix's patents are a major asset and value for future strategic commercial

partnerships. We continue to expand our patent portfolio which is fundamental to

our future commercial licensing, clinical development and strategic business

partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies,” he said.

Patent ation Treaty (PCT) applications allow applicants to file in a

standard English-language format and provide wide protection in multiple

international markets.

For further information please contact:

Weston Geddes

Agenix Limited CoActive Health Communications

Tel: 1300 132 551 Tel: (02) 9555 4453

[Guest guest]

http://www.4-traders.com/news/27-09-2011-Important-Patent-Application-lodged-for\

-Hepatitis-B-drug--13812889/

09/26/2011 | 10:45 pm

27/09/2011 Important Patent Application lodged for Hepatitis B drug

ASX Announcement Agenix Files Important Patent Application for Lead China

Hepatitis B drug

Melbourne, Australia 27 September 2011, Agenix (ASX: AGX) said it had filed an

international method of manufacture patent application under the Patent

ation Treaty (PCT) for its hepatitis B drug AGX-1009. The application

covers the manufacturing process of a compound that uses the same active

ingredient, Tenofovir, used in the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved

drug marketed by Gilead Sciences under the trade name Viread.

The international application aims to provide further long-term protection for

the company’s platform hepatitis B drug compounds through until 2030. Agenix

already has a registered patent to protect the AGX-1009 compound in China

through to 2026.

Like Viread, AGX-1009 is a so-called ‘prodrug' of Tenofovir. Gilead’s ‘prodrug’

of Tenofovir was approved for treatment of hepatitis B in the US in 2008 and in

numerous countries globally but is not yet approved in China. Both drugs contain

Tenofovir but have different molecular side chains to activate that compound.

Both drugs work by blocking an enzyme the hepatitis virus needs to replicate.

Agenix will initiate a Phase I human safety trial of AGX-1009 in 2012. The

clinical trial application will be made with assistance from the Institute of

Medicinal Biotechnology (IMB) of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in

Beijing, from whom Agenix purchased the original compound patent.

AGX-1009 is one of several new drug candidates supported by the Chinese

Government’s State Special Funds for important new drugs which aims to expedite

new mass market therapies for major diseases in China. Gilead's version is

expected to be released on the Chinese market in 2014.

Agenix Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Weston said, “This

important patent application confers further certainty in China and increases

the commercial value of this promising treatment for hepatitis B in geographies

outside of China.”

“Agenix's patents are a major asset and value for future strategic commercial

partnerships. We continue to expand our patent portfolio which is fundamental to

our future commercial licensing, clinical development and strategic business

partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies,” he said.

Patent ation Treaty (PCT) applications allow applicants to file in a

standard English-language format and provide wide protection in multiple

international markets.

For further information please contact:

Weston Geddes

Agenix Limited CoActive Health Communications

Tel: 1300 132 551 Tel: (02) 9555 4453