New patents for Neuren

Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX:NEU) has been issued two additional US patents expanding its portfolio to Parkinson's disease and hypertension.

The first issued patent, entitled "Regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase using Glypromate" provides further protection for Neuren's lead compound, Glypromate, and analogs in chronic conditions. It will be critical for the application of the Glypromate family to Parkinson's disease. Glypromate is a naturally occurring compound that Neuren believes is produced as part of the brain's response to stress and injury while Tyrosine hydroxylase is the enzyme that makes the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is deficient and critical in Parkinson's disease.

"The evidence that we have seen shows Glypromate and possibly its analogs have effect in animal models of Parkinson's disease. This is a key expansion of our patent portfolio, greatly enhancing Neuren's potential to pursue drug development in chronic conditions," said Neuren CEO David Clarke in a statement.

The second patent, "Treatment of hypertension using growth hormone in mammals" is directed to treating hypertension through reduction of systolic blood pressure in selected patient groups by administering an effective amount of growth hormone.