Monogram granted allowance of U.S. patent for its HIV entry and co-receptor tropism technology

By Lisa Kerner

Erie, Pa., May 24 - The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Notices of Allowance to Monogram Biosciences, Inc. for key patent applications related to the company's phenotypic technology for assessing the efficacy of entry inhibitors, a new class of drug that prevents HIV from entering cells.

The patented technology also enables the identification of co-receptor usage by HIV (whether the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor is used by a patient's virus) and helps determine if CCR5 inhibitors may be appropriate treatment, according to a company news release.

"These patent allowances add to the basic patents covering our phenotypic approach, and enhance our proprietary position related to the Co-Receptor Tropism Assay and Entry Assay," chief executive officer William D. Young said in the release.

"We believe that these molecular diagnostic tests may have an important role in patient screening and monitoring for the new class of HIV drugs that target viral entry to cells."

A new class of drug, like CCR5, may be a beneficial treatment option for the approximately 150,000 U.S. HIV/AIDS patients who have had multiple treatment failures, the company said.

Based in South San Francisco, Calif., Monogram discovers, develops and markets products for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.

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