Peptimmune Announces Second Grant of a United States Patent for PI-2301 Peptide Copolymer for Multiple Sclerosis

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Peptimmune, Inc. a privately held biotechnology company, announced today the grant of US Patent Number 7,655,221 (the '221 patent) which protects the target product profile for its PI-2301 peptide copolymer for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases.

The '221 patent claims important treatment modalities for PI-2301 and related compounds.  "The '221 patent enhances the exclusivity for what we believe may become a very important therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases," stated Thomas P. Mathers, President & CEO of Peptimmune.

Peptimmune recently completed a Phase Ib multiple-ascending dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study in subjects with SP-MS.  The Company plans to continue developing PI-2301 by initiating a Phase II study in multiple sclerosis patients later this year.

PI-2301 is a second-generation peptide copolymer from a similar compound class as Copaxone® (Teva Pharmaceuticals). PI-2301 works through immune modulation by enhancing the regulatory response of the immune system and thereby controlling the pathogenic autoimmune response observed in some diseases.

PI-2301 has been optimized using Peptimmune's novel platform peptide chemistry. In preclinical studies, PI-2301 has shown to be more potent and effective than Copaxone in treating disease models for multiple sclerosis. PI-2301 has also shown efficacy in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases where immune modulation may be effective, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune uveitis. Peptimmune has put in place high-quality synthesis and analytical methods that provide a superior level of batch-to-batch reproducibility in the manufacturing of PI-2301.

Over 400,000 Americans have multiple sclerosis (MS), and MS may affect over 2.5 million individuals worldwide. MS is an autoimmune disease in which the individual's immune system responds against multiple components of nerve-insulating myelin. The effects of these immune-mediated attacks can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.

Peptimmune Presentation at the upcoming meeting of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics

Dr. Eric Zanelli, Vice President – Research,  will make a presentation entitled "Induction of an anti-inflammatory immune response toward toxic species of alpha-synuclein; Immunomodulatory therapy for Parkinson's Disease" in the Oral Pipeline Session on March 5, 2010 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm in the Haverford Suite of the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Bethesda Maryland.

Dr. Zanelli will discuss the application of Peptimmune's DEEP technology to the development of a first-line disease modifying treatment for Parkinson's Disease.  

About DEEP

DEEP is a peptide copolymer technology that anticipates antigenic diversity while preserving specificity for the epitope of interest.  DEEP takes advantage of Peptimmune's know-how in the solid-phase manufacturing of complex peptide mixtures. The technology combines the epitope specificity of a fixed-sequence peptide with the randomness of a broadly immune-interactive copolymer.  

About Peptimmune

Peptimmune, Inc. is a privately held clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of peptide therapies to improve the management of chronic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. The Company is in clinical development with second-generation therapeutics that are expected to result in safer and more effective products for multiple sclerosis and pemphigus vulgaris. Current investors include New Enterprise Associates, MPM Capital, Hunt Ventures, Boston Medical Investors, Silicon Valley Bank Capital, and Genzyme Corporation. For additional information, please contact us.

For information please refer to our website www.peptimmune.com

SOURCE Peptimmune, Inc.