Peregrine gets new anti-phospholipid patent

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals has reported the issuance of a US patent that further strengthens the company's intellectual property in the field of  phospholipid-targeting agents for the treatment of life-threatening  diseases. The new patent grants composition-of-matter claims that cover  multiple formulations of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding agents  attached to a wide variety of antiviral agents. PE belongs to the  aminophospholipid family that also includes phosphatidylserine, the  target for Peregrine's monoclonal antibody bavituximab that is in a  clinical trial for hepatitis C and in preclinical studies for HIV and  other viral infections. This new patent follows issuance last year of  broad methods patents covering use of PE-binding agents in anti-viral  applications.