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Patent Granted For Norwood Immunology In South Africa

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 January 2005, 12:00 CST

Norwood Abbey Limited (OTC:NABYF) (ASX:NAL):

Key Points:

-- Patent Granted in South Africa (patent number 2003/2931)

-- Granted Claims Cover Key Aspects of the Immunology Technology

Norwood Abbey Limited (OTC:NABYF) (ASX:NAL) announces that another patent relating to its immunology technology has been granted in South Africa, further strengthening Norwood's intellectual property position in the immunology area.

Norwood's immunology technology is based on the use of FDA approved GnRH analogue drugs to regenerate the thymus gland and enhance bone marrow function. This "re-boots" the body's immune system so it can produce new T cells, enabling patients to better respond to disease. GnRH analogue drugs include Lupron Depot(R), marketed by TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Norwood's US partner in the Immunology project.

The South African Patent Office has granted Patent Number 2003/2931- "Treatment of T cell disorders" with 26 claims. The main claims relate to the use of compounds such as GnRH analogues with Bone Marrow (BM) or Haemopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplants. HSCs are found in bone marrow and in the blood of adults. These cells are precursors of the vital cells of the immune system, including T cells, B cells and dendritic cells.

The use of GnRH analogues with BM or HSC transplants is an important aspect of Norwood's immunology program and has potential application in the treatment of cancer, infectious diseases, immune dysfunctions (such as allergy and autoimmune disease), and transplant tolerance. In particular, the granted patent includes claims directed towards enhancing the immune response to combat infections such as HIV/AIDS by the use of genetically modifying T cells made resistant to HIV infection.

As recently announced, Norwood and TAP have submitted an IND application for a clinical study of the immunological effects of Lupron in patients undergoing autologous BM transplantation. This study follows on from Norwood's first clinical study in patients receiving a similar treatment; interim results of which were announced in December 2003.

The patent derives from PCT Application number AU01/01291 entitled "Treatment of T cell disorders" with a filing date of 15 October 2001 and a priority date of 13 October 2000. The South African patent is the first granted in this patent family. The patent is presently recorded in the name of Monash University, but transfer to Norwood Immunology Ltd, a subsidiary of Norwood, is underway in the South African Patent Office.

For further information about Norwood, visit the company's websites at www.norwoodabbey.com and www.norwoodimmunology.com.

Source: Business Wire

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