Pfizer to get patent for cholesterol lowering formulation

The company has been developing a PCSK9 inhibitor, under the name bococizumab

Global pharma giant Pfizer Inc has received a patent for a drug that addresses issues related to cholesterol and related disorders, including cardiovascular disease.

The Indian Patent Office has said that the company amended its set of claims for the invention titled PCSK9 Antagonists and there were no technical and formal objections pending, and that the application will now proceed to an approval stage.

The application is related to therapeutic methods for use of certain antibodies and antigen-binding portions to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels and for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, including treatment of hypercholesterolemia, a situation in which blood cholesterol levels are high.

 

The company has a PCSK9 inhibitor, under the name bococizumab/RN316, in its pipeline to be developed for treatment of Hyperlipidemia.formulati

The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the liver is responsible for removing LDL cholestrol in the blood and the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to the receptor, preventing it from its activity. Blocking the PCSK9 would help to improve the functioning of the receptor, this enabling the body to bring down the LDL cholesterol levels in blood, according to experts.

The particular invention provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and antibody-encoding nucleic acid.

The Patent Office had initially raised several objections on the claims, stating that they fall under various sections of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 and were thus not patentable. It added that the Claim 1 of the application does not sufficiently define the invention and sought the company's response.

In a hearing held in January, this year, the company's representative agreed to delete certain claims and submitted necessary amendment to some other claims.

Monika Yadav, assistant controller of Patents and Designs with the Delhi Patent Office, in her order said that based on the written submission and the report given by the examiner on the amended set of claims, the patent application shall proceed to grant of Patent on amendment set of claims filed on February 3, 2016, as there are no technical and formal objections.