Biotech Values

[biomaven0]

But the issue for me is that I don't trust what AKBA says here because they also claim freedom to operate in the US where four iron-related patents survived GSK's IPR challenge.

Here are some of the claims from the US patents;


1. A method for treating iron deficiency in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a heterocyclic carboxamide compound that stabilizes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF.alpha.), thereby treating iron deficiency in the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the iron deficiency is associated with anemia.

A method for increasing iron absorption in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a heterocyclic carboxamide compound that stabilizes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF.alpha.), thereby increasing iron absorption in the subject.

A method for treating anemia in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a heterocyclic carboxamide compound that stabilizes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF.alpha.), thereby increasing the percent transferrin saturation in the subject, wherein the subject is a subject having a percent transferrin saturation level below 20% prior to said administering.


A method for increasing serum iron in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a heterocyclic carboxamide compound that stabilizes the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF.alpha.), thereby increasing serum iron in the subject. The compound of claim 1 for the use of that claim, wherein the iron deficiency is associated with a disorder selected from the group consisting of anemia, iron deficiency anemia, microcytic anemia, inflammation, infection, immunodeficiency disorder and neoplastic disorder.

The compound of claim 1 for the use of that claim, wherein the compound is for use in increasing iron absorption.

A compound that inhibits hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) hydroxylase activity for use in treating or preventing iron deficiency in a subject, wherein the compound is a structural mimetic of 2-oxoglutarate.

The compound of claim 1 for the use of that claim, wherein the compound is for use in increasing iron availability for erythropoiesis or red blood cell production.
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I assume the AKBA will want a label saying their drug can be used without IV iron - absent that claim they can't be competitive. So how does that not infringe, even though they can try to pretend their drug is just to treat anemia and somehow has little or nothing to do with iron.