The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent titled ‘Neurotrophic factor MANF and uses thereof’ to Finnish Herantis Pharma.

MANF, or mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor, is used for the treatment of neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and ischemic brain injury.

“MANF is the only known neurotrophic and neuroprotective factor similar to our drug candidate CDNF, which is now entering clinical development,” explains Henri Huttunen, chief scientific officer of Herantis. “Scientific research has revealed that despite their resemblance both CDNF and MANF have unique features that make them very interesting drug candidates for slightly different target diseases. We are currently developing CDNF for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and this new patent also strengthens our patent portfolio in that specific field.”

The granted MANF patent, as well as the CDNF patents previously granted to Herantis, are based on research from the University of Helsinki.

Herantis has previously received regulatory approvals in Sweden to start its first-in-human clinical study with CDNF in Parkinson’s disease. It also landed funding from the European Union for a phase 1–2 clinical study with a drug candidate for the treatment of Parkinson’s.

Source: Finland Health