AyuVis Research, which is developing a series of immune therapies that can prevent and treat a variety of inflammatory and infectious diseases, has been granted its first Composition of Matter patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The Fort Worth-based pharmaceutical company is developing a pipeline of small molecule drug candidates to fight infection and inflammation by balancing the body’s natural immune response. AyuVis’ initial focus of its immunotherapy is on protecting preterm babies from their second leading cause of death: a debilitating lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), for which its drug candidate has been granted Orphan and Rare Pediatric Drug Designations. The next step toward AyuVis’goal of saving these babies is a first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial later this year.
David Riley, MD, MBA, a neonatologist and AyuVis’ Chief Medical Officer, said: “The patent is validation of the unique and proprietary mechanism of action of AyuVis’ immunomodulatory compounds. We are eager to demonstrate their efficacy in upcoming clinical trials.”
The patent includes the structure of many of the pipeline compounds, what diseases/indications the immunotherapies could potentially treat, routes of administration for the drug candidates, and multiple formulations (mixed with saline, etc.). The patent also has been approved by Canada, South Korea and Australia, and is under examination in the European Patent Organization, Brazil, Japan, China/Hong Kong and Mexico. The patent will protect the company’s IP until 2037.
AyuVis has a second patent that is published and under examination in the U.S. and several other countries/regions. This patent was deemed to be eligible for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) by the USPTO because of its novelty, patentability and industrial application. PPH is a cooperative program between the USPTO and participating foreign patent offices to expedite the allowance of utility patent applications that previously received favorable rulings.
AyuVis continues to conduct research, and provisional patents are filed periodically for new methods of use, formulations and research data. Three provisional patents were filed during 2021. The patent strategy ensures optimal protection for commercialization, strategic partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies, and licensing its drug candidates.
“We are excited to receive approval for our first patent on our novel series of small molecule compounds. The timing is perfect as we work toward our goal of bringing life-saving therapies to patients,” said Dr. Suchi Acharya, the inventor of AyuVis’ patent and the Founder and CEO of the company.
“After testing the safety of our new drug in the Phase 1 clinical trial, we will progress our lead program in preterm infants with underdeveloped lungs, which are further damaged by mechanical ventilation. Based on preclinical research, these compounds have an excellent safety profile, which is essential when focusing on a pediatric population, and will make reaching our goal in the clinic easier.”
AyuVis is a client company of TechFW, a nonprofit technology business incubator and accelerator in Fort Worth, a portfolio company of the Cowtown Angels, an angel investor network affiliated with TechFW, and a partner with the UNT Health Science Center in its HSC Next incubator program.
AyuVis developed its patent portfolio with patent attorney, Edwin Flores, PhD, paralegal Laura Da Conceicao, and the Chalker & Flores firm.
Additional AyuVis team members are: Dale Christensen, PhD, Director of Early Development; William Dean, PhD, Head of CMC; Russell Bromley, Director of Operations; Stella Robertson, PhD, Drug Development Advisor; Ranjan Misra, Business Advisor; and Darlene Boudreaux, MBA, CPA, as CFO.
To learn more about AyuVis’ innovative immunotherapies, please visit its website at www.ayuvis.com, or send an email inquiry to:
Sarah Spain
Operations Manager
sarah@ayuvis.com
