New Patent OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 15, 2021 / Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. ("Tetra" or the "Company") (TSX:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF)(FRA:JAM1), a biopharmaceutical pioneer in immunomodulator drug discovery and development announces the granting of a new patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for patent application number 16/190,450. This patent covers a method for the treatment of interstitial cystitis.
Interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome, is a chronic bladder health issue. According to the Interstitial Cystitis Association, approximately 4 to 12 million people in the U.S. are subject to IC, and approximately 90% of the IC patients are women. Epidemiologic research conducted in 2006 suggested that up to 12% of women may have early symptoms of IC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The discomfort in the bladder and pelvic area has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients living with IC. There is currently no cure to the disorder. While several treatments are available to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain, either on their own or in combination, the Canadian Urological Association Journal reported that novel therapies are emerging for the treatment of IC, including the use of cannabinoids due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The endocannabinoid system is a key regulator of immune function with evidence for the involvement of cannabinoid receptors in bladder inflammation.
Our studies revealed that intravesical instillation, or oral treatment, of two proprietary compounds significantly reduced bladder inflammation and significantly reduced pain in experimental models of IC. The effects of both proprietary compounds were shown to be superior to intravesical Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment, a current standard of care treatment for IC. Both compounds can be used as an adjunct and/or alternative treatment option for alleviating symptoms of inflammation and pain in the management of IC.
Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CRO of Tetra commented "We are very happy to have been granted this patent to strengthen our intellectual property portfolio for Tetra. The development of a cannabinoid treatment for IC was one of the Panag Pharma assets acquired by Tetra. Tetra has licensed the product to one of its shared venture partners. The IC product should be commercialized in Q2 2022 under the partner's brand."