Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals Receives Allowance for US Patent entitled Nucleotide and Oligonucleotide Prodrugs

Milford, MA, November 15, 2011 – Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed the U.S. patent 11/637,520 ("the patent") titled "Nucleotide and Oligonucleotide Prodrugs", co-inventors Iyer and Padmanabhan. This patent relates to the design, synthesis, and evaluation of prodrug analogs of nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligonucleotides. The compounds, compositions and methods of the present invention are designed to facilitate oral delivery of compounds useful for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and associated liver diseases. 

“The issuance of this patent is a significant achievement for Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals (SBP) since it gives us broad intellectual property coverage on our novel Small Molecule Nucleic Acid Hybrid compounds, as well as composition of matter, utility, methods of use including oral delivery” stated Douglas Jensen, Spring Bank’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It is a credit to Dr. R. P. Iyer and his team. Their pioneering work in Small Molecule Nucleic Acid Hybrid chemistry is leading to the discovery and development a new class of safer and more effective drugs for the treatment of important diseases such as Hepatitis B and C, RSV, COPD and others."

Based on its proprietary platform technology, SBP is developing a pipeline of drugs representing a new class of pharmaceuticals called Small Molecule Nucleic Acid Hybrids, (SMNH). Its’ most advanced product candidate, SB 9200, is a potential breakthrough drug for the treatment of both hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections. 

Contact: Don Mitchell (508) 473-5993 ext.102.

About Hepatitis

Over 350 million people are chronically infected with HBV virus worldwide. The HBV virus is a DNA virus which incorporates into the hepatocyte DNA. Read More >>

Approximately 170 million people worldwide and 4 million in the United States are infected with HCV. HCV infection is one of the most significant public health threats facing Americans.
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