Singapore: BioDiem received a grant of a Chinese divisional patent, expanding the patent position for its novel antimicrobial compound BDM-I. The parent patent was granted in China during 2010, BDM-I is a synthetic compound being developed by BioDiem as a treatment of serious infections.

The divisional patent strengthens the company's portfolio by granting BioDiem's claims in China for BDM-I and compounds related to it chemically; for the use of BDM-I as a preventive and therapeutic compound against an array of infectious diseases. BDM-I's effectiveness against a broad range of micro-organisms that cause serious human disease including tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis, malaria, sexually transmitted and many other diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

"BioDiem is delighted with the grant of a new divisional Chinese patent, which will allow us to pursue a broader range of licensing opportunities in the Chinese jurisdiction. BioDiem will continue to increase the out-licensing value of BDM-I by developing data to support the compound's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity," said BioDiem CEO Ms Julie Phillips.

Patent applications for BDM-I have currently been granted in China, Russia, Singapore and Australia, as well as in three of the world's largest patent jurisdictions, Europe, Japan and the US. Currently BioDiem is progressing further validation of BDM-I's antimicrobial activity, conducting studies to explore the scope of BDM-I's indications with expanded screening studies, and embarking on a new project in collaboration with Griffith University.