ProQR Announces Japanese Axiomer Patent Upheld Following Opposition Against Its Leading IP Estate for ADAR-mediated RNA Editing

LEIDEN, Netherlands & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq: PRQR) (ProQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through transformative RNA therapies, today announced it has successfully defended against an opposition filed in Japan against a patent directed to its ADAR-mediated RNA editing platform Axiomer.

The opposition was filed in September 2023 with the Japanese Patent Office by a strawman against ProQR’s granted patent JP 7244922, which is related to the broad concept of using chemically modified oligonucleotides to target specific adenosines within target RNA using endogenous enzymes and is part of ProQR’s intellectual property estate surrounding its Axiomer ADAR-mediated RNA editing technology platform. The Japanese Patent Office rejected the strawman’s opposition and indicated that all claims were to be maintained as granted to ProQR.

“Our patents have been consistently upheld when challenged by multiple parties in various jurisdictions, further supporting the strength of our leading IP position in the field of RNA editing using oligonucleotides and endogenous ADAR,” said René Beukema, Chief Corporate Development Officer and General Counsel. “The decision by the Japanese Patent Office shows that our granted claims are considered novel, inventive, and the patent remains in force. We believe safeguarding our intellectual assets is pivotal to our long-term success and intend to continue to defend against challenges through our leading IP position.”

ProQR invented the use of endogenous ADAR in RNA editing in 2014 and filed a first patent application in that same year. Since then, ProQR has filed multiple additional patent applications on further improvements to form a leading patent estate that makes RNA editing with oligonucleotides that recruit endogenous ADAR proprietary to ProQR. Today ProQR has extensive patent protection related to its RNA editing platform, Axiomer, including more than 13 published patent families, that currently comprise a total of 27 patents. Beyond this, ProQR has several unpublished patent applications and continuously invests in expanding its IP estate around ADAR-mediated RNA editing.