Faron Pharma granted protection for IFN-beta by Finnish patent office

Faron Pharmaceuticals’ patent application to protect the intravenous use of interferon-beta, a cytokine protein, in a novel formulation has been accepted by the Finnish patent office that enables the company to build a global proprietary position for its Traumakine drug.

The claims cover a single intravenous dose of IFN-beta at 2-15 micrograms, which is being used in on-going Traumakine drug trials in Europe and Japan for acute respiratory distress syndrome, which Faron is aiming to get approval in various territories to treat of the syndrome and other vascular dysfunctions.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is widespread capillary leakage and inflammation in the lungs - most often as a result of pneumonia, sepsis, or significant trauma - has a 30-45% mortality rate and does not have an approved pharmacological treatment.

Earlier phase one and two trials conducted in the UK and published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, showed a decline in mortality at day 28 of 81%.

Faron has developed the first intravenous formulation of IFN-beta to treat of vascular leakage in lungs and other central organs, which the allowed claim covers, but are not limited to acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The AIM-listed company said it plans to also file application to the US patent office with same scope of protection, while in spring 2017 it will file the international Patent Cooperation Treaty to start the process in other countries.

Chief executive Dr Markku Jalkanen said: “We have already granted patents for INF-beta in ischemic conditions in many countries, and these additional claims significantly extend protection for Traumakine as a drug to treat life threatening conditions like acute lung injuries up to 2036-37.”