RE: New article.. Good read.18 Mar 2026 10:06
Genflow Biosciences PLC (LSE:GENF, OTCQB:GENFF) has cleared a key hurdle in its bid to patent a gene therapy targeting ageing, after the European Patent Office (EPO) confirmed that claims in one of the company's core applications are patentable.
The development means Genflow’s application, covering a variant of the SIRT6 gene, has now entered the final pre-grant stage, a significant step in securing full patent protection across Europe.
While the patent has not yet been formally granted, the application has been published in the EPO Bulletin and now enjoys provisional protection in participating member states.
This allows Genflow to enforce its rights in those countries, subject to local validation processes.
Dr Eric Leire, Genflow’s chief executive, said: “The publication by the EPO represents a major validation of our scientific innovation and long-term IP strategy.
"Securing formal European recognition for our patent moves us closer to full protection of our longevity gene therapy platform and strengthens our strategic position for future partnerships and funding opportunities.”
The company will need to update the patent’s description to bring it into line with the approved claims before the EPO issues a formal intention to grant.
Founded in 2020 and listed in London, Genflow is developing therapies aimed at slowing the biological ageing process, with a view to extending both lifespan and healthspan, the number of years lived in good health.
Its lead compound, GF-1002, delivers a variant of the SIRT6 gene found in centenarians, a group of people who live to 100 or beyond.
The gene is being tested in a 12-month trial in older dogs, which began earlier this year.
The company also plans to explore GF-1002’s potential in treating MASH, or Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, a common liver disease for which there are currently no approved treatments.
The European patent progress could also help position Genflow to access potential grant funding from the European Union and bolster its negotiating hand in discussions with larger pharmaceutical partners.