Peplin granted US patent for its anti-cancer therapeutics

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted Peplin Biotech (ASX: PEP) a patent protecting the broad anti-cancer activity of its angeloyl-substituted ingenanes - a class of molecules which includes its lead molecule PEP005.

In 2002, Peplin was granted a US skin cancer patent for PEP005 -- 3-ingenyl angelate. This application of PEP005 is the subject of a US$23 million development collaboration and license agreement with California's Allergan. Allergan will have the rights to market the drug as a skin cancer therapeutic in North and South America, while Peplin will have marketing rights everywhere else, including Europe and Asia.

The new US patents 6,787,161 and 6432,452, titled 'Anti-cancer compounds' will cover further anti-cancer applications, including therapeutics for bladder cancer and leukaemia.

"Any formulation for any cancer - any product that we develop from these molecules is going to enjoy market exclusivity when on the market," said Peplin managing director and CEO Michael Aldridge.

Peplin is currently seeking partners specialising in urology and haematology to explore PEP005's potential to treat bladder cancer and a range of leukaemias. Human trials of PEP005 for these indications are scheduled for this financial year, according to Aldridge.