The principal patent protecting Affimer biotherapeutics and research reagents has been accepted for grant China.
The Affimer technology, made by specialists Avacta, is an alternative to antibodies.
It is based on a small protein that has been engineered to present a “sticky” surface that can be made to bind specifically to a target of interest, such as another protein or virus.
The core invention covered by the patent is the way in which Affimer has been engineered to give it the ability to bind a target.
The patent
This patent will extend coverage of Avacta’s intellectual property into another potentially large market for the company. Counterparts to this patent have already been granted in the US, Europe and Japan.
Considering the therapeutic applications of Affimers alone, China now accounts for more than one fifth of the global therapeutic antibody market.
The company is commercialising the Affimer technology, through a licensing model, to developers of diagnostic and research products and is building a pipeline of Affimer drugs both in-house and with partners.
Protection of the company’s intellectual property in China is an important step in creating commercial partnering opportunities to address the Chinese diagnostic and biopharmaceutical markets.