DELAWARE, January 12, 2022 ─ iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a US-based global biotech company, has been awarded a patent for a therapeutic being developed for the treatment of neuropathic pain and epilepsy (iQ-007). In addition, iQure’s multi-targeting compound to treat pain (iQ-008) has entered the national patent stage.
Dedicated to a new generation of neuropathic pain management therapeutics, iQure developed iQ-007 as a new chemical entity with a novel mode of action. This therapeutic has demonstrated a favorable safety profile with promising results in the secondary indication of epilepsy. iQ-008 is a rationally designed multitargeting compound which, in preclinical efficacy screenings, shows a promising profile in all in vivo pain models.
“We are delighted with this first patent granted for iQ-007,” said iQure Chief Executive Officer Pawel Zolnierczyk. “This crucial step in the process of developing a new treatment helps to build awareness about the importance of therapies for neuropathic pain. One of the limiting factors in epilepsy and pain management treatments, like drug-resistant epilepsy, childhood epilepsy and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, are the debilitating central side effects limiting use in the current standard of care. Our goal is to bring relief to those populations.”
Recent experiments confirmed that iQ-007 acts as a positive allosteric modulator of naturally occurring neuromodulator EAAT2. Through this unique mechanism, it enhances the natural glutamate uptake preventing neurotoxicity often associated with epilepsy and neuropathic pain. iQ-007 has already been granted formal confirmation of patent protection by the Polish patent office.
With iQ-008 showing efficacy in outperforming standards of care, iQure is securing global protection, including the US, Europe, China and Canada. For both assets, iQure’s patents focus on composition of matter claims and medical use in neurological disorders.