ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GlycoMimetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLYC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule drug candidates to treat rare diseases, announced today that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has issued Patent No. 6366150, for uproleselan (GMI-1271). The newly issued patent covers uproleselan’s composition of matter as well as pharmaceutical formulations, and expires in December 2032.
“The JPO’s issuance of a patent for uproleselan extends major market intellectual property coverage for this E-selectin antagonist drug candidate,” stated Rachel King, GlycoMimetics’ Chief Executive Officer. “As the need for novel AML treatments continues to grow worldwide, the Japanese patent represents an important component of our intellectual property portfolio. It protects the composition of matter of this innovative approach to treating blood cancer.”
As previously announced, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and European Patent Office have issued patents directed to the composition of matter of uproleselan, pharmaceutical formulations of uproleselan, and methods of treating acute myelogenous leukemia. These patents will also expire in late-2032. In addition to the above coverage. GlycoMimetics has ongoing efforts to secure additional patents on uproleselan and its uses to potentially extend exclusivity beyond 2032.
About Uproleselan (GMI-1271)
Uproleselan is designed to block E-selectin (an adhesion molecule on cells in the bone marrow) from binding with blood cancer cells as a targeted approach to disrupting well-established mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance within the bone marrow microenvironment. In a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, uproleselan was evaluated in both newly diagnosed elderly and relapsed/refractory patients with AML. In both populations, patients treated with uproleselan together with standard chemotherapy achieved better than expected remission rates and overall survival compared to historical controls, which have been derived from results from third party clinical trials evaluating standard chemotherapy, as well as lower than expected induction-related mortality rates. Treatment in these patient populations was generally well tolerated, with fewer than expected adverse effects. The FDA has granted uproleselan Breakthrough Therapy designation for the treatment of adult AML patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. GlycoMimetics plans to implement a comprehensive development program across the clinical spectrum of AML. This will include a company sponsored Phase 3 trial in R/R AML and two consortia-sponsored trials in newly diagnosed patients. One consortium trial will be sponsored by the NCI and will enroll newly diagnosed patients fit for intensive chemotherapy. The other trial will be sponsored by the HOVON group in Europe and will enroll newly diagnosed patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy.
About GlycoMimetics, Inc.
GlycoMimetics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel glycomimetic drugs to address unmet medical needs resulting from diseases in which carbohydrate biology plays a key role. GlycoMimetics has three clinical-stage programs: rivipansel, uproleselan and GMI-1359. In addition, the company is researching additional pre-clinical stage compounds based on its specialized chemistry expertise. GlycoMimetics is located in Rockville, MD in the BioHealth Capital Region. Learn more at www.glycomimetics.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the clinical development of the company’s drug candidates, including the expected timing of completion of clinical trials and the presentation of clinical data. Actual results may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks associated with these statements, as well as other risks facing GlycoMimetics, please see the risk factors described in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 6, 2018, and other filings GlycoMimetics makes with the SEC from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and GlycoMimetics undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.
