European Patent Office has granted ValiRx’s patent covering its major therapeutic compound VAL201, including prostate cancer, the pharmaceutical company said on Wednesday.
As for the compound, ValiRx noted it is currently in a “Phase I/II dose escalation study to assess safety and tolerability of VAL201 in the treatment of prostate cancer and other solid tumours”. It is a dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study to assess the safety and tolerability of VAL201 in patients with advanced stage prostate cancer (APC).
To date, no dose limiting toxicity (DLT) has been observed, nor have any therapeutically related serious adverse events (SAE), the company said. VAL201 has met so far the predicted safety and tolerability criteria with good results on patients, with more subjects still being followed.
ValiRx points out that patients on a realistic dose have shown significant changes in PSA levels related to their treatment with VAL201. In addition, ValiRx’s initial observations are that the clinical results correlate with the pre-clinical studies, which showed efficacy in prostate, breast and ovarian cancer models as well as addressing endometriosis or hormone induced abnormal cell growth in women.
The grant of this latest patent to UK-based cancer focused company means that it now has patent protection for VAL201 in Japan, Europe and Australia, with further patents pending for the compound in significant markets across the rest of the world.
Dr Satu Vainikka, CEO of ValiRx, welcomed the newest patent grant, noting the positive recent clinical trial success.
“This grant supports the potential value of the compound and solidifies our opportunity in ongoing discussions with potential partners,” Dr Vainikka said.