Pneumagen Further Strengthens IP Protection for Lead Product Neumifil with Granting of US Composition of Matter Patent

Pneumagen, a clinical-stage biotech company developing Neumifil, a broad-spectrum antiviral, intranasal drug for the prophylaxis and treatment of viral respiratory tract infections (RTIs), today announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a US Patent for HEX17, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Neumifil. Neumifil, Pneumagen’s lead product, is being developed for the broad-spectrum prevention of viral induced exacerbations including those caused by influenza virus (IFV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus and coronavirus infections including COVID-19.

Neumifil is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a proof of concept challenge study in healthy participants subsequently infected with influenza virus. A Phase 2 study, evaluating Neumifil in patients who are at high risk of viral induced exacerbations of their underlying disease, such as COPD, is due to start in 2024. Neumifil’s active component, HEX17, is a multivalent, glycan-targeting carbohydrate binding module (mCBM). It was generated using Pneumagen’s proprietary GlycoTarge™ technology that identifies novel mCBMs for further development.

Douglas Thomson, CEO of Pneumagen, commented: “This US patent grant is a key milestone for Pneumagen, which builds further significant value for Neumifil, our novel first in class host cell-targeted antiviral. We are continuing to make excellent progress in developing this lead product and look forward to seeing further results from our clinical programme. The large patient population targeted by Neumifil presents a significant unmet need, given the limited treatment options available and the potentially fatal consequences of exacerbations of their underlying disease.”

Pneumagen has multiple patent families protecting its core intellectual property including granted US and European patents and has filed further patent applications covering the CBM technology, its application and medical use.