Purple Biotech Fortifies NT219 Patent Protection

New patent granted in China for pharmaceutical composition of NT219 expands IP protection

REHOVOT, Israel, Nov. 02, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Purple Biotech Ltd. ("Purple Biotech" or "the Company") (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that harness the power of the tumor microenvironment to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, today announced that the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) has granted a new patent for maintaining a pharmaceutical composition of NT219 in its active form.

The new patent protects the method which prevents the conversion of NT219 from its active form to a less active form and supports maintenance of the active form during manufacturing, storage and handling until administered to the patient.

The new patent granted in China (# CN 115466205 B) expands Purple Biotech’s patent protection for NT219 in China. The drug was previously issued patent in China that relates to the combinations of NT219 with various anti-cancer agents.

NT219 is being developed for the treatment of head and neck cancer, a large market opportunity in China. Recent data demonstrate NT219’s activity in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in combination with cetuximab. Patients continue to be treated with higher dose for optimization prior to entering a Phase 2 study.

“Expanding patent protection for NT219’s composition is strategic for Purple Biotech and we believe that the grant of this new patent marks another step forward in our global intellectual property strategy. China is a large and important market opportunity for us, and strengthening our patent coverage improves our competitive positioning in this territory,” stated Purple Biotech CEO, Gil Efron.

About Purple Biotech

Purple Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) is a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that seek to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance. The Company's oncology pipeline includes NT219, CM24 and IM1240. NT219 is a dual inhibitor, novel small molecule that simultaneously targets IRS1/2 and STAT3. In a Phase 1/2 study of NT219, the Company is currently advancing it in a dose escalation as a monotherapy treatment of solid tumors, and in a dose escalation in combination with cetuximab for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) or colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). These studies will be followed by an expansion phase of NT219 at its recommended Phase 2 level in combination with cetuximab in patients with recurrent and metastatic SCCHN. CM24 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks CEACAM1, an immune checkpoint protein that supports tumor immune evasion and survival through multiple pathways. The Company is advancing CM24 as a combination therapy with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in a Phase 2 study for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The Company has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb for the Phase 2 clinical trials to evaluate the combination of CM24 with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab in addition to chemotherapy. IM1240 is a preclinical, conditionally-activated tri-specific antibody that engages both T cells and NK cells to mount a strong, localized immune response within the tumor microenvironment. The third arm specifically targets the Tumor Associated Antigen (TAA) 5T4 that is expressed in a variety of solid tumors and is correlated with advanced disease, increased invasiveness and poor clinical outcomes. IM1240 has a cleavable capping technology that confines the compound's therapeutic activity to the local tumor microenvironment, and thereby potentially increases the anticipated therapeutic window in patients. The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Rehovot, Israel. For more information, please visit https://purple-biotech.com/.