Phylogica gets Australian Phylomer patent

Phylogica (ASX:PYC) has secured a key Australian patent covering its portfolio of Phylomer peptide libraries.

The patent covers the company’s Phylomer libraries as a composition of matter, regardless of how they are constructed or screened. It allows the peptides to comprise genomes including bacteria, protozoa, algae and even vertebrates.

Phylogica holds similar patents in other regions, including the European Union.

Phylogica CEO Paul Watt said the patents “confirm Phlyogica’s dominant IP position over the Phylomer peptide class [and] protect recent upgrades to the Phylomer platform, which have enhanced the overall complexity of the phage libraries”.

“Our IP estate blocks potential competitors and controls access to this rich resource of drug-like peptides by any current or future means, since we have protected the Phylomer libraries themselves, in addition to multiple methods of constructing and screening them.”

The company’s Phylomer libraries include over 170 billion compounds. Phylogica uses the libraries to provide drug discovery services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Major partners include Pfizer, which is collaborating with the company on a drug discovery project, as well as Roche, MedImmune and Janssen.

Phylogica shares were trading 14.29% higher at $0.024 as of around 2 pm on Friday.