Oslo, 15 March 2016 - Photocure (OSE: PHO), a specialty pharmaceutical company with focus on photodynamic technologies in cancer and dermatology today announces that a new patent for Cevira has been granted in Europe.
Cevira is one of Photocure's promising pipeline products and is being developed as a new and innovative breakthrough for the treatment of precancerous lesions of the cervix. The newly granted patent protects the Cevira drug, its use and its combination with a drug delivery device, such as the Cevira device, until 2030.
This new key patent in Photocure's Cevira portfolio complements the company's proprietary two European patents which protect different aspects of the Cevira device, and which expire 2029.
Concurrently, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for Photocure's patent application related to the Cevira drug. A US patent protecting the Cevira drug in a similar way as the above-mentioned European patent will issue shortly.
"The approval of this latest European patent and the Notice of Allowance for the equivalent US application is a key milestone for us in our continued work to secure the long-term value of Cevira. The new patents further strengthen Photocure's robust patent portfolio and provide Cevira market exclusivity for the long-term. Cevira is a key asset for us, with the potential to not only treat HPV induced cervical high grade disease but also to prevent the development of cervical cancer, which affects more than 500,000 women annually",said Kjetil Hestdal, President and CEO of Photocure.
For further information, please contact:
Photocure
President & CEO Kjetil Hestdal
Tel: + 47 913 19 535, Email: kh@photocure.no
CFO Erik Dahl
Tel: +47 450 55 000, Email: ed@photocure.no
Notes to editors
About Photocure ASA
Photocure, headquartered in Oslo Norway, is a specialty pharmaceutical company and world leader in photodynamic technology. Based on our unique proprietary Photocure Technology(TM) platform, Photocure develops and commercializes highly selective and effective solutions within disease areas with high unmet medical need, such as bladder cancer, HPV and precancerous cervical lesions, colorectal cancer and skin conditions. Our aim is to provide solutions which can improve health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). Information about Photocure is available at www.photocure.com.