Aequus Granted Chinese Patent for Once-Weekly Transdermal Aripiprazole
Continues to build patent portfolio and strengthen protection for antipsychotic transdermal program following completion of proof of concept clinical trials
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - October 10, 2017) - Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AQS) (OTCQB: AQSZF) ("Aequus" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, announced today that the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO) has granted a Chinese patent for Aequus' once-weekly transdermal patch containing aripiprazole, in development for the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders. The patent, granted under No. 201180052667.0, is titled "Aripiprazole compositions and methods for its transdermal delivery". This patent has been granted in six other major countries or regions, including the US, Russia, Mexico, Japan, Canada and Australia, and is pending in multiple additional territories.
"We continue to globally expand and strengthen our patent portfolio for our once-weekly transdermal aripiprazole program," said Anne Stevens, COO and Director of Aequus Pharmaceuticals. "This Chinese patent not only secures key elements of our formulation in a significant market, it also expands regional out-licensing and partnering opportunities. This comes at an important time as we accelerate our business development efforts for this program, a key initiative for increasing shareholder value."
Aequus owns worldwide rights to the formulation described in the issued patent.
About AQS1301
Aripiprazole is an atypical anti-psychotic sold as a once daily, oral tablet under the brand name Abilify®. Originally approved and marketed in 2002 for schizophrenia, Abilify® is currently sold in over 65 countries and regions. Since its initial approval, aripiprazole has seen a label expansion in the United States to include acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I, adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, irritability associated with autistic disorder, and treatment of Tourette's disorder. Although Abilify® is a market leader in the US, Aequus believes it has limitations due to its daily dosing regimen which is associated with a high rate of non-adherence and relapse. Aequus' proposed transdermal, once-weekly aripiprazole patch is designed to consistently deliver aripiprazole over a seven-day period at levels comparable to currently marketed once-daily formulations. By delivering aripiprazole over seven days in a comfortable, convenient and easy-to-use weekly patch, AQS-1301 is intended to promote enhanced patient compliance.
