Sydney, June 27, 2005 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian biotechnology company Peptech Limited (ASX: PTD) today announced its joint venture partner Biosceptre International Limited had been granted a patent in Australia related to the diagnostic use of antibodies binding to a cancer cell marker.
The Australian patent (No 779845), corresponding to PCT application WO 01/06259 A1, is in addition to equivalent patents already granted in South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore. Further patent applications in this family are pending around the world.
PCT application WO 01/06259 is the first in a series of patent applications designed to protect the use of the cancer cell marker identified by Biosceptre for the purposes of diagnosing and treating a variety of cancers. These patents have been licensed to Peptech for the development of anti-cancer diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
Biosceptre has also lodged patent applications covering the imaging and therapeutic uses of the marker.
Peptech Executive Chairman Mel Bridges said the granting of the new Australian patent further secured the foundation of Biosceptre's intellectual property position.
"Biosceptre's cancer cell marker has been identified in all epithelial cancer types tested including ovarian, bowel, prostate, liver, uterine, mesothelioma (asbestos related), cervical, breast, skin, stomach and lung," he said.
"The new patent further protects Biosceptre's important work in this area and significantly strengthens the company's patent portfolio. We look forward to Biosceptre being granted further patents in other countries."
Biosceptre International Managing Director Dr Geoff Cumming said the company was pleased the first of its patent applications relating to the identification of a cancer cell marker were proceeding to grant in different jurisdictions.
"Biosceptre maintains an active patenting strategy to protect its intellectual property," he said.
"Several other Biosceptre inventions relating to the cancer cell marker are also the subject of patent applications. Together, these patents secure our exclusivity to this invention."
About Biosceptre International
Biosceptre International Limited is an unlisted public biotechnology company which has discovered, and is commercialising, a range of intellectual property primarily focussed on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The joint venture with Peptech Limited was formed to develop some of this intellectual property.
Contact
Mr Mel Bridges
Executive Chairman
Peptech Limited
Tel.: +61-(0)413 051 600
Dr Phil Jennings
R & D Director
Peptech Limited
Tel.: +61-(0)408 886 522
Dr Geoff Cumming
Managing Director
Biosceptre International
Tel.: +61-(0)417 203 021
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