Optherion Announces Issuance of Canadian Patents Covering Age-Related Macular Degeneration Diagnostics and Treatments

Issuance of Canadian Patents 2,363,503 and 2,407,715 Strengthens Intellectual Property Position of Optherion’s Novel Diagnostics for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — Optherion, Inc., a company developing novel molecular diagnostics and treatments for dry and wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and other chronic diseases involving the alternative complement system, announced today that the Canadian Patent Office has granted patents 2,363,503 and 2,407,715.

The claims of the issued patents provide secure protection for diagnostic tests for determining the predisposition to AMD by screening for genetic modifications in several genes including complement factor H (CFH), complement factor B (CFB), complement factor 2 (C2) and complement factor 3 (C3) amongst others. Optherion has an exclusive worldwide license to these Canadian patent rights, the corresponding PCT patents and applications from the University of Iowa Research Foundation.

Colin J. Foster, Optherion’s President and CEO, said: “The issuance of the Canadian patents is an important milestone in the development of our diagnostics business. With these and other patents pending, licensed from almost a dozen universities, we are well positioned to exclusively offer a range of predictive and prognostic diagnostic tests to healthcare professionals treating patients with AMD and other diseases of the alternative complement system. As we advance to commercialization, we will continue to develop and protect our intellectual property covering our novel products.”

Optherion is developing a genetic test for AMD and is pursuing commercialization discussions with several providers within North American and international markets.

About Optherion:

Optherion, Inc. is a private, innovative biotechnology company that is developing protein therapeutics and molecular diagnostics for the management of dry and wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and other chronic diseases involving the alternative complement system. Optherion’s proprietary technologies are based on landmark scientific discoveries linking certain genes to AMD.

SOURCE Optherion, Inc.