Prosensa has been granted two patents for exon-skipping by the Japanese Patent Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The Japanese patent (no. 2002-529499), granted in October 2011, describes methods of inducing exon skipping in RNA of eukaryotic cells by using antisense oligonucleotides compounds. It covers the portfolio of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) compounds currently in development by Prosensa. The U.S. patent (no. 7,973,015), granted in July 2011, describes a method for multiple exon skipping.

Prosensa also announces the outcome of the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (EPO) ruling regarding its European Patent EP1619249. The EPO Opposition Division ruled that the patent was allowable in an amended form. The allowed patent describes the skipping of exon 51 in the DMD gene using a 14- to 40-mer antisense oligonucleotide as a potential therapy to treat DMD. The amendment is the result of an opposition proceeding brought by AVI BioPharma.

With this ruling, the EPO confirmed the IP position that Prosensa has built in the field of exon skipping in DMD. The patent provides protection for Prosensa’s lead product, PRO051/GSK2402968.

Release Date: Nov. 17, 2011
Source: Prosensa