The Japanese government has granted New Haven drug maker Alexion Pharmaceuticals a patent for its rare blood-disorder drug Soliris, the company announced Monday.
The approval from the Japanese Patent Office follows three U.S. patents issued for Soliris last August. All four patents are for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare blood disease. They expire in 2027.
“Alexion is pleased that the JPO has granted an additional patent for Soliris, enhancing our global portfolio of intellectual property protection for this novel complement inhibitor,” CEO Ludwig Hantson said in a statement. “As we continue to serve patients in Japan and invest in additional research and development for Soliris, we look forward to working with other jurisdictions around the world to further strengthen our patent portfolio.”
Alexion said it is pursuing more patents for Soliris, its key money maker, in Europe and elsewhere.
In September, the company announced it would move its headquarters from New Haven to Boston in 2018 as part of a major restructuring, which came on the heels of questions about its sales practices, a shakeup of top management and news of a federal probe into its support for charities that aid Medicare patients. It will maintain a research center in the Elm City.
In other New Haven biopharma news:
- Achillion Pharmaceuticals said Monday it has secured orphan drug status for its drug compound ACH-4471 to treat PNH, the same rare disease targeted by Alexion’s Soliris. The designation, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration awards to promising drugs for diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., makes Achillion eligible for tax credits and other incentives.
- The first patient has been dosed in a study of Biohaven Pharmaceuticals’ drug compound BHV-0223, a sublingual formulation of its Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) tablet Rilutek (riluzole), the company said Monday. The company said the orally dissolving version could be helpful for ALS patients, who often have trouble swallowing.
Natalie Missakian can be reached at news@newhavenbiz.com
