Blast from the past - Theralase's Intellectual PropertyThere as been an explosion of new research into oncological photodynamic therapy in the last 2 decades but very little commercialization of new treatments. Once Theralase proves the practicality of pdt for NMIBC and commercializes it's treatment, the floodgates may open for a myriad of new trials of treatments for various forms of cancer with various new photo-sensitizers.
Fortunately, as of May 2016,
Theralase has the rights to tens of thousands of Dr. McFarland's metal based PDCs which they will have proprietary protection for until 2054. The road to access this new class of photosensitizers for cancer treatments runs through Theralase.
Theralase Granted US Patent for Lead Anti-Cancer Drug Toronto, Ontario – June 20, 2016, Theralase Technologies Inc. (“Theralase®” or the “Company”) (TLT:TSXV) (TLTFF:OTC), a leading biotech company focused on the commercialization of medical devices to eliminate pain and the development of Photo Dynamic Compounds (“PDCs”) to destroy cancer, announced today that it has been granted a US patent for its lead anti-cancer drug, TLD-1433, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).
US patent number 9,345,769 (filed on April 15, 2013 and issued on May 24, 2016) provides patent protection for tens of thousands of metal based PDCs; including, Theralase’s lead anti-cancer drug, TLD-1433, currently under investigation by the Company for the destruction of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (“NMIBC”).
The US patent provides patent protection for Theralase’s second major platform of anti-cancer PDCs for twenty years from date of filing, plus an allowable extension of 433 days, providing a minimum patent protection in the US of TLD-1433 and tens of thousands of more compounds until June 22, 2034.
Theralase’s first major platform of PDCs is protected by four issued US patents, under worldwide exclusive licence from Virginia Tech Intellectual Property.
Under worldwide exclusive licence agreement with the inventor of the latest patent, Dr. Sherri McFarland has agreed to maintain strict confidentiality on any trade secrets associated with the synthesis or manufacture of TLD-1433 for a period of twenty (20) additional years following the expiry of the last patent covering inventions or improvements in compounds or their methods of use; thereby, increasing minimum proprietary protection of TLD-1433 in the US until June 22, 2054.
Theralase appreciating the value in the metal based compound technology, invented by Dr. McFarland, has vigorously pursued international protection of the patent, with patent applications currently pending in Canada, the major economies of Europe, Brazil, Russia, India and China.
Now that the precedent has been established with the issuance of a US patent by the USPTO, Theralase is optimistic that additional international patents will issue in due course.