Alterity Therapeutics has announced the allowance of a new composition of matter patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The new patent is the product of in-house discovery research and is central to Alterity's next generation drug development portfolio focussed on neurodegenerative diseases.

The patent, entitled "Compounds for and Methods of Treating Diseases" (Application No. 16/818,641), covers more than 150 novel pharmaceutical compositions that are designed to redistribute the labile iron implicated in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The patent, which was filed in March of 2020, underwent prioritized examination by the USPTO.

Alterity's strategy is based on the hypothesis that its therapeutics can disrupt the underlying pathology of neurodegenerative conditions in which labile iron is implicated in disease pathology.  This includes Parkinsonian disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy, as well as Alzheimer's disease.  

The patent confers on Alterity 20 years of exclusivity, providing a strong basis for continued drug development and commercialization and new compound identification within its extensive drug discovery library to target important neurodegenerative diseases. 

This new patent will support the expansion of Alterity's drug development portfolio. Its most advanced compound, ATH434, currently in clinical development has a favourable safety and pharmacokinetic profile, achieving drug concentrations at the site of action that met or exceeded those associated with efficacy in animal models of Parkinson's disease and its first clinical target, Multiple System Atrophy.

Alterity's Chairman and CEO, Mr Geoffrey Kempler said, "This broad patent establishes an excellent foundation for the company to pursue multiple therapeutics across a spectrum of neurodegenerative disease."

"There is a growing clinical and scientific focus on the implication of elevated iron in the brain of people with neurodegenerative disease. Alterity has been at the forefront of research and drug development in this area, and we have significant research to support our current and future drug development efforts."

"This patent allows us to fully prosecute these opportunities with confidence in the coming years to address some of the most devasting brain diseases which currently have few or no treatment options.

In addition to the US, the company is pursuing patent protection in other jurisdictions.

Authorization & Additional information
This announcement was authorized by Geoffrey Kempler, Chairman and CEO of Alterity Therapeutics Limited.

About Alterity Therapeutics Limited and ATH434

Alterity's lead candidate, ATH434 (formerly PBT434), is the first of a new generation of small molecules designed to inhibit the aggregation of pathological proteins implicated in neurodegeneration. ATH434 has been shown to reduce abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein and tau proteins in animal models of disease by redistributing labile iron in the brain. In this way, it has potential to treat Parkinson's disease and atypical forms of Parkinsonism such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

ATH434 has been granted Orphan designation for the treatment of MSA by the US FDA and the European Commission.

About Multiple System Atrophy

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and rapidly progressive neurological disorder affecting adults. It has no known cause. In addition to presenting with motor symptoms like those in Parkinson's disease, individuals with MSA may also experience loss of ability to coordinate voluntary movements and impaired regulation of involuntary body functions such as blood pressure, bowel and bladder control. Most of these symptoms are not addressed by available drugs for patients with Parkinson's disease. As the condition progresses, daily activities become increasingly difficult and complications such as increased difficulty swallowing, vocal cord paralysis, progressive immobility, and poor balance become more prominent. Symptoms tend to appear after age 50 and rapidly advance, leading to profound disability.