Copernicus Receives Issued U.S. Patent That Targets Small Molecules to Epithelial Cells.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

CLEVELAND--(BW HealthWire)--July 26, 2001

Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the United States Patent Office has issued Bifunctional Molecules for Delivery of Therapeutics, US Patent Number 6,261,787 to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).

Copernicus has an exclusive license to this and other related technologies from CWRU scientist Dr. Pamela Davis.

Mark J. Cooper, M.D., Senior Vice President of Science and Medical Affairs said, "This patent broadly covers novel drug compositions that deliver therapeutic molecules to the luminal surface of epithelial cells. The novel composition consists of a ligand that targets a receptor found on the surface of specific cells (such as the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) found on airway cells) and any non-protein therapeutic. For example, a drug targeting pIgR could be used for treatment of airway diseases. Since the volume of fluid at the airway surface of epithelial cells is much, much smaller than a person's blood volume, the fusion molecule is highly concentrated at the site of disease processes. This targeted delivery also reduces systemic toxicities by keeping the drug away from other body sites, permitting therapeutic applications of otherwise toxic materials. Since the luminal surface of epithelial cells is often the site of infectious and inflammatory disorders, this technology permits development of new classes of smart-drug therapeutics to effectively treat diverse conditions, including cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease."

"Copernicus, through its association with Case Western Reserve University, has established a very broad and enabling position in the field of targeted therapeutics, including proteins, small molecules, and nucleic acids," said Robert C. Moen, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Copernicus. "Our intellectual property positions us uniquely in this field. These issued claims cover compositions that target any transcytotic receptor, and any small molecule can be delivered to sites of disease via this nondegradative pathway. We expect to broadly partner this delivery platform with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies wishing to exploit the advantages of our proprietary technology."

Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. is advancing novel targeting and delivery systems with broad applications in human therapeutics and vaccines. Copernicus' technologies include a multi-component delivery platform that can be applied to nucleic acids to develop therapies for a variety of human diseases and a targeting platform enabling the efficient uptake of drugs by specific cells and tissues. The Company's targeting and delivery platforms are complementary and can be combined to enhance the efficacy and safety of existing drugs or to create novel therapeutics.