A South Korean pharma company, JW Pharmaceuticals, has recently reported a grant of patent to its homegrown gout treatment, URC102, by European Patent Office.
The pharma company is developing URC102, which is a potential inhibitor of human uric acid transporter 1, a promising treatment for gout patients. 171 patients with gout were involved in completing phase IIb cinical trials of the drug that completed in March.
Manufacturing measures for URC102 are included in the patent along with the key intermediate for gout treatment. The company is planning to take necessary actions to get patent grants for each country in Europe.
In reference to the safety and efficacy tests for the URC102 drug, which had been conducted earlier this year in South Korea, the South Korean firm has sent patent applications to nearly 20 countries till now, including U.S., Japan, China and South Korea itself. Apart from Europe, patent registrations in Australia and South Africa have also been obtained by the company.
The company has plans to proceed with technology transfer deals for the drug with other renowned pharmaceutical companies worldwide, as said by the firm.
For acquiring the production and commercialization rights of URC102 in Chinese market, JW pharmaceuticals had already signed a technology transfer deal with China-based Simcere Pharmaceutical in 2019.
