CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MNTA), a biotechnology company specializing in the characterization and engineering of complex drugs, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 8,470,318, entitled "Polypeptides With Enhanced Anti-inflammatory and Decreased Cytotoxic Properties and Related Methods," to The Rockefeller University. Momenta is the exclusive licensee of the patent. The patent claims methods of inhibiting inflammation using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-derived, sialylated Fc regions and expires in 2028.
Momenta is developing the sialylation technology, which originated in the laboratory of Jeffrey Ravetch, M.D., Ph.D., Theresa and Eugene M. Lang Professor and Head of the Leonard Wagner Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology at Rockefeller. Momenta is applying the sialylation technology to develop novel medicines for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
"This is the first U.S. patent to issue from a patent family related to sialylated Fc-containing products," stated Craig Wheeler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Momenta Pharmaceuticals. "Obtaining patent protection for sialylated Fc-containing products, whether recombinant or derived from IVIG, is an important strategic priority in our development of this exciting new technology, and we expect to expand the patent protection afforded by this licensed patented family."
About Momenta
Momenta Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company specializing in the detailed structural analysis of complex mixture drugs and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA. Momenta is applying its technology to the development of generic versions of complex drugs, biosimilars and potentially interchangeable biologics, and to the discovery and development of novel medicines.
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Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding management's future expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, plans or prospects are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "could increase the likelihood," "hope," "target," "project," "goals," "potential," "predict," "might," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is planned," "may," "should," "will," "will enable," "would be expected," "look forward," "may provide," "would" or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the section "Risk Factors," as well as other documents that may be filed by Momenta from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, the Company's actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Momenta is providing the information in this press release as of this date and assumes no obligations to update the information included in this press release or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.