Biotron granted US patent for BIT225

Biotron (ASX:BIT) has been awarded a US patent for covering lead antiviral compound BIT225.

The company has received notice that the US Patent and Trademark Office has accepted a patent application covering the composition, use and methods of treatment with BIT225.

It has a 20-year term from its filing date, December 2007, and has options for extension under certain circumstances.

“This patent provides Biotron exclusivity in the key USA market over its proprietary compound BIT225,” Biotron Managing Director Dr Michelle Miller commented.

Biotron already has similar patents covering BIT225 in eight other jurisdictions, including Europe and China.

BIT225 is under development for both HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). Clinical trials support the drug’s ability to target and clear out HIV reservoir cells.

In HCV, Biotron is currently evaluating BIT225 in a three-month dosing phase II trial in HCV Genotype 3 patients. Recruitment in the trial is expected to be complete by mid-year, with preliminary data to be released in the second half of the year.

Biotron (ASX:BIT) shares were trading unchanged at $0.087 as of around 2 pm on Friday.