4 Dec 2014 07:00
For immediate release
SciFluor Life Sciences Awarded U.S. Patent for Integrin αvβ3 Inhibitors Designed for the Topical Treatment of Retinal Disease
· Patent-protected topical integrin antagonist could potentially revolutionize retinal disease therapy.
· Addressable markets include wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
· Issuance of first patent validates SciFluor's innovative approach to small molecule drug discovery by the strategic incorporation of fluorine.
Cambridge, Mass. (Dec. 4, 2014) - SciFluor Life Sciences, LLC, an emerging clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that creates innovative therapeutics for patients with ophthalmologic and neurologic disease, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 8,901,144 with claims covering the novel compound SF0166. SciFluor's SF0166 is a small molecule integrin antagonist designed to treat retinal disease, including Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), via topical administration to the eye.
Topical administration of medications (eye drops) for treating the retina in order to eliminate the need to inject compounds to the back of the eye has been considered an enormous challenge until now. Current treatments require repeated injections into the back of the eye in order to get enough of the drug where it is needed. A drug that could localize in the back of the eye after administration as an eye drop would remove the need for repeated injections. To date, no topically administered drug has been approved for these indications.
Ben Askew, PhD, Vice President of Research, said, "The issuance of the patent covering SF0166 provides validation of our fluorine-centered approach to rapidly bringing new transformational therapies to patients with serious illnesses. SF0166 demonstrates how the appropriate fluorine-containing modifications can improve the physical properties of a molecule to address the challenge of getting enough drug to the back of the eye without injections."
Dr. Askew is the lead on the SF0166 therapeutic program, which is targeted to treat both wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) as well as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).
"The scientific depth of this team and the team's ability to rapidly evolve this candidate and to obtain an issued patent protecting this lead compound in such an enormous field of retinal disease is highly impressive. We are excited to advance this program. This is the first of many opportunities at SciFluor that we are pursuing to strategically capitalize on the transformational power of fluorine," said Omar Amirana, MD, SciFluor's Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President at Allied Minds.
SciFluor is a subsidiary of Allied Minds (LSE: ALM), an innovative U.S. science and technology development and commercialization company.
About SF0166
SciFluor is developing SF0166, a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of integrin αvβ3 with an optimum balance of physiochemical properties to allow it to distribute to the retina in high concentrations after topical administration to the eye. It has been tested in an extensive set of pre-clinical assays and shown to be effective in a validated in vivo model of wet AMD. The non-fluorinated compound on which it is based does not distribute appreciably to the back of the eye after topical administration.
About AMD
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of severe vision loss in older Americans. It affects central vision and may interfere with daily tasks such as reading and driving. Macular degeneration affects the retina in two forms - dry and wet AMD, also called neovascular AMD. Wet AMD is frequently accompanied by relatively sudden loss of vision. This is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels underneath the retina that leak fluid or blood. Recent advances in the treatment of wet AMD can now prevent further loss of vision, or even restore vision in some cases, if treatment is sought promptly. These treatments require frequent injections of biologic drugs into the back of the eye performed in a doctor's office. Generally, the effectiveness of these treatments decreases with time, therefore improved treatments are actively being sought. A topically administered drug that is safe and effective would be a major advance in patient care.
About SciFluor Life Sciences LLC
SciFluor Life Sciences is a drug discovery company applying expertise in fluorine chemistry to create a portfolio of differentiated best-in-class therapeutics. The company creates new chemical entities (NCEs) directed towards precedented biological targets. SciFluor strategically incorporates fluorine or fluorine-containing groups to design drugs with improved pharmacological profiles that provide important benefits over existing therapies such as improved safety, efficacy, more convenient dosing and better patient compliance. This capital-efficient and de-risked drug discovery approach has resulted in the generation of a proprietary pipeline of novel and differentiated small molecule drugs across a range of therapeutic categories and disease areas including retinal disease, CNS disorders, and inflammatory disease.
About Allied Minds
Allied Minds (LSE: ALM) is an innovative U.S. science and technology development and commercialization company. Operating since 2006, Allied Minds forms, funds, manages and builds products and businesses based on innovative technologies developed at leading U.S. universities and federal research institutions. Allied Minds serves as a diversified holding company that supports its businesses and product development with capital, central management and shared services. More information about the Boston-based company can be found at www.alliedminds.com.
Allied Minds Forward-Looking Statement
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Media Contact:
Christine Dunn
ArcPoint Strategic Communications
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