Living Cell Technologies and HealthLinx receive key patents

Two antipodean biotechnology companies have announced patents have been granted for their key technologies.

Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) has progressed another step in commercialising its encapsulation technology, IMMUPEL, with the granting of a patent by the Australian Patent Office.

Read more about Living Cell Technologies.

IMMUPEL is a technology for the encapsulation of living cells, which can then be transplanted into patients.

Once encapsulated, the cells are protected from the body's immune system, obviating the need for immunosuppressant drugs.

The technology is used in LCT's DIABECELL, which encapsulates porcine insulin-producing cells, which are then injected into patients with Type 1 diabetes.

LCT is still conducting clinical trials of DIABECELL in Russia and New Zealand, and is looking to conduct clinical trials in Australia.

Meanwhile, Melbourne-based HealthLinx (ASX:HTX) received patent approval from the UK patent office for its OvPlex diagnostic product.

OvPlex looks for a series of biomarkers in a blood sample that are indicative of ovarian cancer, including the CA125 biomarker.

This is the first jurisdiction in which OvPlex has been patented, with the UK office ticking off the novel, inventive and industrial application checks.