On Wednesday, Malvern, PA-based Annovis Bio Inc. announced it had been issued a U.S. patent for treating acute traumatic brain injuries with its drug buntanetap.
Annovis, known for transformative therapies for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, said it had filed a patent in 2016 covering the treatment of various nerve insults, like TBI, stroke and nerve or spinal cord injuries. The claims were granted in Europe and worldwide, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) required the claims to be divided into individual patents for each indication. Annovis Bio said it has now received a patent which covers treating TBI and preventing nerve cell death with buntanetap.
“We are thrilled to achieve this significant milestone for buntanetap,” Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., founder, president, and CEO of Annovis, said. “Nerve cell death is a common underlying factor in many brain conditions, beyond just Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Our preclinical studies in TBI and stroke animal models have demonstrated buntanetap’s efficacy in preventing cell death and loss of function, and it is our duty to explore its potential benefits for victims of brain trauma, a prevalent issue in the U.S.”
Officials said the patent will strengthen Annovis Bio’s portfolio which includes patents and patent applications for the use of buntanetap for acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases, as well as mental illness.
The company said buntanetap works by inhibiting the formation of multiple neurotoxic proteins to improve synaptic transmission, axonal transport and reduce neuroinflammation. Dysregulation of these pathways has been shown to cause nerve cell degeneration and ultimately nerve cell death.