BioInvent Issued US Patent for n-CoDeR® Antibody Library

BioInvent International AB (SAX:BINV), the antibody development company listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Exchange, announced today that the US Patent Office has granted a new patent covering its n-CoDeRÒ antibody library.

The antibody library n-CoDeR® is an essential part of BioInvent's technology platform and enables the fast and efficient discovery of human antibodies. It is utilised in the development of proprietary drug candidates in diseases areas as HIV, atherosclerosis, cancer and osteoarthritis as well as in development partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

The issued patent covers methods for preparation of the n-CoDeR® antibody library as well as methods for preparing the separate antibody components included in the library. BioInvent has already obtained corresponding patents in Europe, Japan and Australia. In August 2004, Maxygen, Inc. and Novozymes A/S filed oppositions with the European Patent Office against the European patent. These oppositions will be subject to a hearing March 16.

"The US Patent strengthen our efforts in building a competitive portfolio of drug candidates through increased patent protection around our product candidates" commented Svein Mathisen, President and CEO of BioInvent.

To date, BioInvent has more than 160 individual patents and patent applications pending worldwide either licensed exclusively or filed in its name. The patents and pending applications cover the core technology to discover antibody candidates and various aspects thereof, as well as antibody product candidates in development and their use in therapy.

The new patent has the number US 6 989 250 and is entitled “A method for in vitro molecular evolution of protein function”