Calgary, Alberta, Canada
July 30, 2009
SemBioSys Genetics Inc. ("SemBioSys") (TSX:SBS) today
announced that it has been granted U.S. patent US 7,547,821
entitled "Methods for the Production of Insulin in Plants". The
granted claims of the patent are directed to a method for the
commercial production of insulin in plant seeds.
"This patent further strengthens our unique proprietary position
on the production of high-value pharmaceuticals using plants.
Human insulin is currently the world's largest-volume protein
pharmaceutical and is an ideal target for our oilbody-oleosin
technology platform," said James Szarko, President and CEO of
SemBioSys. "The issuance of this patent ensures our exclusivity
to commercialize our insulin-production technology in the U.S.
and
offers competitive advantages to potential partners who wish to
supply the expanding diabetes market."
A counterpart to the U.S. patent US 7,547,821 was issued in
Europe last year, and corresponding patents are pending in many
jurisdictions worldwide including Canada, Australia, Japan,
China, India and Mexico.
The Company also recently completed a successful phase I/II
clinical trial of its plant-made insulin in the first quarter of
2009. The trial represented the first plant-made insulin ever
injected into human subjects. The results proved bioequivalence
between SemBioSys' plant-made insulin and Humulin(R) R, Eli
Lilly's widely-used recombinant human insulin.
Calgary, Alberta-based SemBioSys is a world leader in
manufacturing high-value proteins and oils in plant seeds. With
its unique proprietary platform, SemBioSys provides partners
with product enablement, exceptionally low cost and
unprecedented scalability. The Company applies this platform
with high selectivity to opportunities where it has a unique
competitive advantage. Since its inception, SemBioSys has
produced more than 50 non-native proteins and oils using its
patented seed technology, demonstrating applicability across a
broad range of industries such as pharmaceuticals, personal care
and industrial products. The Company's current pharmaceutical
development programs include insulin (SBS-1000, regulated as a
biosimilar in Europe) and Apo AI(Milano), a next-generation
cardiovascular therapy. SemBioSys is listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the ticker SBS. More information is available at
www.sembiosys.com. |
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