Introgen p53 combination cancer therapy patent affirmed

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Feb. 23 - Introgen Therapeutics Inc. said its European Patent No. 0 760 675 was upheld by the European Patent Office Technical Board of Appeals following an opposition brought by Schering-Plough Corp.

The patent covers the use of p53 in combination with standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy and is exclusively licensed to Introgen by The University of Texas System.

This is the fourth European patent case in three years decided in Introgen's favor over oppositions involving Schering-Plough, according to a company news release.

"This is a very important win for Introgen on the European patent front," Introgen vice president for intellectual property David L. Parker said in the release.

"This patent is strategically important in that it covers the administration of p53, in any form, after the administration of virtually any type of conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy."

Introgen said it controls 88 issued U.S. and international patents and has a large number of pending U.S. and international applications that relate to its p53 technologies.

In addition to p53/chemotherapy combination therapy, issued patents cover the use of Advexin for the treatment of cancer and hyperproliferative disorders and the use of DNA damaging agents, DNA repair inhibitors or taxanes in combination with p53, the company said.

Introgen is a biopharmaceutical company based in Austin, Texas, that discovers, develops and commercializes targeted molecular therapies for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

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