Genticel granted five new patents in the US and Asia during first half of 2014 (AcT)

GENTICEL (Euronext Paris and Brussels: FR0011790542 - GTCL), a French biotechnology company and leading developer of therapeutic vaccines, provides an update on patents that have recently enriched its intellectual property estate.

Genticel has been granted five patents in major territories since the beginning of 2014. These patents consolidate Genticel's product pipeline in important emerging and mature pharmaceutical markets.

The patents US 8628779, IN 258906 and KR 10-1382250, granted in the USA, India and South Korea respectively on January 14, February 14 and April 1 claim a recombinant protein carrying human papillomavirus (HPV) epitopes inserted in an adenylate cyclase protein or fragments thereof. They encompass granted claims protecting Genticel's candidate therapeutic vaccine, ProCervix, and contain claims that also cover other HPV therapeutic vaccines with multiple antigens such as Genticel's follow-on candidate product, ‘Multivalent HPV'.

In addition, the patent US 8637039, granted on January 28, describes an HPV infection treatment comprising proprietary methods currently used in the ongoing Phase II efficacy trial with the lead candidate, ProCervix.

Lastly, JP 5496669 was granted in Japan on March 14, 2014. It protects a composition for eliciting a specific cytotoxic T cell response, comprising a lympho-ablative compound and a molecule (containing an antigenic sequence) that targets professional antigen-presenting cells. The patent specification is particularly appropriate for administration of ProCervix and related immunotherapeutics in combination with immunosuppressive drugs for use in advanced disease indications such as cervical carcinoma, HPV-associated anal and oropharyngeal cancers.

With the recent addition of these patents, Genticel adds further layers to the intellectual property portfolio protecting ProCervix across key mature and emerging markets, namely the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea and India.

Benedikt Timmerman, the founder and CEO of GENTICEL, said: “The first half of 2014 provided Genticel with a considerably enhanced intellectual property portfolio. Four patents were granted in Q1: two in the USA, one in India and one in Japan. In addition, a fifth patent was granted at the beginning of Q2 in South Korea.” He added: “The US, Indian and South Korean patents are particularly valuable because they address innovative aspects of ProCervix and Multivalent HPV pipeline products, whereas the Japanese patent is focused on combination treatments for HPV-induced cancers.”
 

About ProCervix
ProCervix is a therapeutic vaccine designed to induce a curative cellular immune response in patients infected with HPV16 and/or HPV18. The high-risk human papillomavirus HPV16 and/or HPV18 types are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers worldwide. ProCervix is a potential blockbuster that, at peak, could be prescribed to about 1.3 million women per year and lead to sales of more than €1 billion.

About GENTICEL
Genticel is a French biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of therapeutic vaccines aimed at eliminating, at an early stage, the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for cervical cancer. Besides ProCervix, a second therapeutic vaccine candidate targeting six of the most pertinent strains of HPV is currently in preclinical stages. Vaxiclase, the technology platform used in this product is ideally adapted for developing early-intervention immunotherapies against multiple infectious or cancerous diseases.

GENTICEL is based in Paris and Toulouse and was awarded the 2013 Innovation Prize by the ‘Grands Prix de l'Economie'.

Since April 4, 2014, GENTICEL shares have been listed on the regulated Euronext markets in Paris and Brussels.

For more investor information, please visit GENTICEL's Investor website
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