On November 2, 2023 Purple Biotech Ltd. ("Purple Biotech" or "the Company") (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that harness the power of the tumor microenvironment to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, reported that the China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") has granted a new patent for maintaining a pharmaceutical composition of NT219 in its active form (Press release, Purple Biotech, NOV 2, 2023, View Source [SID1234636788]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The new patent protects the method which prevents the conversion of NT219 from its active form to a less active form and supports maintenance of the active form during manufacturing, storage and handling until administered to the patient.

The new patent granted in China (# CN 115466205 B) expands Purple Biotech’s patent protection for NT219 in China. The drug was previously issued patent in China that relates to the combinations of NT219 with various anti-cancer agents.

NT219 is being developed for the treatment of head and neck cancer, a large market opportunity in China. Recent data demonstrate NT219’s activity in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in combination with cetuximab. Patients continue to be treated with higher dose for optimization prior to entering a Phase 2 study.

"Expanding patent protection for NT219’s composition is strategic for Purple Biotech and we believe that the grant of this new patent marks another step forward in our global intellectual property strategy. China is a large and important market opportunity for us, and strengthening our patent coverage improves our competitive positioning in this territory," stated Purple Biotech CEO, Gil Efron.