BELLEVILLE, Ontario, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. , a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced that has been granted three new patents for its core proprietary Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) and the related oligonucleotides.
The President & CEO of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., Graeme McRae, noted, “Bioniche takes its patent portfolio very seriously. We have more than 300 approved patents or pending patent applications in progress, and we are constantly adding more. This ensures the maximum opportunity for returns on marketed products.”
MCC Patent
The Company has been granted a patent in the U.S. entitled “Hyaluronic acid in the treatment of cancer” (U.S. Patent No. 7125858), inventors Dr. Nigel C. Phillips and Dr. Mario C. Filion, Bioniche Therapeutics.
The patent has composition and methods claims covering the use of hyaluronic acid in combination with the Company’s proprietary MCC and oligonucleotide technologies for the treatment of cancer. The patent also covers the use of hyaluronic acid with the anticancer agent tamoxifen for the treatment of cancer.
The coverage of cancer types that can be treated is very broad and includes squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, sarcoid carcinoma, melanoma, mammary cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cancer, osteosarcoma, cutaneous melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, brain cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia or lymphoma.
About MCC
Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) is a composition prepared from Mycobacterium phlei, a saprophytic mycobacteria. MCC has immune stimulatory as well as apoptosis (programmed cell death) inducing activity against cancer cells. A formulation of MCC is currently under development for the treatment of high-grade non-invasive bladder cancer.
Oligonucleotide Patents
The Company has also been granted two additional patents focusing on olionucleotides, one in Europe and one in the U.S.
The European patent, “Conformation-Activity Relationship of Apoptosis-Inducing Phosphodiester Oligonucleotides” (EP patent no. 1448986), describes the invention of a computer-based method to predict the anticancer activity of oligonucleotides. The inventors are: Dr. Nigel C. Phillips, Dr. Mario C. Filion, Dr. Sidney Holan and Dr. Stephanie Reader, Bioniche Therapeutics.
The U.S. patent, “Oligonucleotide compositions and their use to induce differentiation of cells” (US patent no. 7087586), is based on method claims for 3'-OH, 5'-OH, chemically unmodified synthetic phospiodiester oligonucleotide covering use in both animals and humans with disease associated with insufficient differentiation of cells or to increase differentiation of pluriopotent cells. Such disease includes leukemia and lymphoma, among others. The inventors are: Dr. Mario C. Filion and Dr. Nigel C. Phillips, Bioniche Therapeutics.
The Company plans to develop this platform through additional pre-clinical research in the immunomodulatory and anti-cancer areas and is actively seeking opportunities to partner the technology for further development.
About the Oligonucleotide Technology Platform
In 2000, Bioniche announced the discovery of a new class of molecules with potential anticancer and immune modulatory activity, trademarked by the Company as “Oligomodulator(TM)”. This new class of molecules, which have potential clinical applications in the fields of cancer and immune modulation, are composed of short non-antisense DNA oligonucleotides with novel pharmacological activities.
About Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. is a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of proprietary products for human and animal health markets worldwide. The fully-integrated company employs approximately 188 skilled personnel and has three principal operating divisions: Human Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety. The Company’s primary goal is to develop proprietary cancer therapies supported by revenues from marketed products in human and animal health. For more information, please visit www.Bioniche.com .
Except for historical information, this news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current expectation regarding future events. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which may cause, but are not limited to, changing market conditions, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s ongoing quarterly and annual reporting.
For further information, please contact: Jennifer Shea, Manager of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. Telephone: (613) 966-8058 ext. 1250 Cell: (613) 391-2097 Rachel Levine, Investor Relations The Global Consulting Group Tel: 646-284-9439 Rlevine@hfgcg.com
Bioniche Life Sciences Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Shea, Manager of Corporate Communications & InvestorRelations of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., +1-613-966-8058, ext. 1250, orcell, +1-613-391-2097; or Rachel Levine, Investor Relations, The GlobalConsulting Group, +1-646-284-9439, or Rlevine@hfgcg.com, for Bioniche
Web site: http://www.bioniche.com//