Hatchtech gets patent for active ingredient of head lice treatment
Singapore: Australia-based specialty pharmaceutical company, Hatchtech, has been granted a patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office covering a key element of the company's novel head lice treatment product, DeOvo.
The granted US patent, number 8,212,038, describes the inhibition of egg hatching (the ovicidal effect) of the active ingredient of DeOvo and additionally encompasses related compounds. Further patent applications on other aspects of DeOvo are pending in the US and key commercial jurisdictions across the world. Having completed the phase II program with DeOvo, Hatchtech is progressing to its pivotal phase III trials, which are expected to commence in 2013.
Furthermore, Dr Vern Bowles, CSO, Hatchtech, presented data from the firm's highly successful phase IIb clinical trial at the recent 38th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology in the US. This conference, which was attended by over 300 physicians, highlighted that head lice infestation remains a significant therapeutic challenge.
Further clinical efficacy and safety data on DeOvo has also been accepted for presentation at the prestigious American Academy of Pediatrics annual conference later this year.
Dr Ross Macdonald, CEO, Hatchtech, said that, "The granting of a further US patent for DeOvo is a very important commercial milestone for Hatchtech and it adds to the existing base of granted Hatchtech patents in the US and other markets. Of equal importance is the opportunity for the company to showcase the outstanding efficacy and safety data from our recently completed DeOvo phase II studies at two key physician conferences in the US."
