InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding announces that a new method of use patent for the drug candidate cobitolimod will be issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The patent provides additional protection for treating chronic active ulcerative colitis in patients that are not responding or are intolerant to anti-inflammatory therapy, wherein cobitolimod is not administered in combination with corticosteroid or glucocorticosteroid.

The continuation patent, entitled Method for prevention of colectomy (patent number 9795627), will provide an exclusivity period until November 2032, with the possibility of up to 5 years term extension after market approval.

“This new patent constitutes a valuable complement to our existing portfolio of granted patents for cobitolimod in the US,” said Peter Zerhouni, CEO of InDex Pharmaceuticals. “The patent covers the use of cobitolimod for treatment of ulcerative colitis in patients with or without a history of steroid use when cobitolimod is not administered in combination with steroids, and it is not limited to certain dosing regimens of cobitolimod.”

The USPTO has notified the company that the patent will be issued on October 24, 2017. Corresponding patent applications have been or will be filed in Europe, Japan and Canada and will be diligently prosecuted to grant.