Proteologics Granted First siRNA Patent in the Ubiquitin Ligase Field

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Proteologics lnc. has announced that it has been granted United States Patent No. 7,268,227 relating to its antiviral program. This patent broadly covers siRNA molecules that can inhibit, or “silence” the expression of Proteologics’ antiviral drug target, hPOSH - a human protein that was characterized by Proteologics as a ubiquitin ligase essential for HIV biogenesis.
Proteologics has anti-viral drug discovery programs based on proprietary research of host-protein ubiquitin-ligase drug targets shown to be essential for the HIV life cycle. Proteologics strategy is to target human pathways evolutionarily required for viral biogenesis consequently preventing completion of the viral life cycle in human cells.
According to company, this approach allows Proteologics to develop drugs that have not been previously encountered by viruses. Such new drugs are expected to be more effective than current therapies against the problematic emergence of viral resistance.
Mr. Avishai Levy, CEO and President said, "The granting of this patent is an additional achievement in the execution of our corporate strategy to generate value for our shareholders by leveraging our Discovery Platform in the ubiquitin system.”
He continued, “Even though we are focused on the development of novel small molecule-based therapeutics, the methodology we employ allows us to generate valuable IP throughout the discovery process as well. The granting of broad substance-of-matter claims for therapeutic siRNA constructs relating to our antiviral drug discovery program provides further reassurance and increases our value proposition”.