|
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2006--Critical Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the issuance of a U.S. patent for methods of diagnosing and monitoring the severity of several inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and lupus, by measuring the concentration of a key protein present in a patient's bloodstream.
U.S. Patent No. 7,060,504, "Antagonists of HMG1 for Treating Inflammatory Conditions," involves methods of measuring the concentration of the protein High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and comparing that concentration to a representative normal sample. HMGB1 is measured using an antibody that binds to the protein. Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are among the inflammatory conditions claimed under the patent.
HMGB1 belongs to a class of proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines and is secreted by the immune system as part of the body's response to trauma and infection. Increased levels of HMGB1 have been linked to acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis and rheumatoid arthritis. HMGB1 persists at elevated levels for a longer period than other major pro-inflammatory cytokines. This longer period of elevation makes HMGB1 an attractive development opportunity due to the ability for it to be measured in patients and targeted for treatment.
"This patent should enhance our therapeutic antibody development activities in arthritis and broaden our collaboration on diagnostic opportunities in the HMGB1 field," said Walter Newman, Ph.D., Critical Therapeutics' Senior Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer.
Critical Therapeutics' HMGB1 patent estate is exclusively licensed to MedImmune, Inc. for the treatment and prevention of diseases, such as arthritis and lupus. In addition, Critical Therapeutics licensed its HMGB1 diagnostic rights to Beckman Coulter, Inc., which is developing immunoassays to detect and manage inflammatory diseases.
"Through these discoveries we are striving to open a new window into inflammatory disease, and this patent gives us and our partners valuable intellectual property toward that goal. It encompasses not only a unique method to diagnose certain conditions, but also the potential to monitor disease severity and gauge clinical prognosis, insight that we hope will produce more successful outcomes," added Dr. Newman.
|
Message
Boards
