Renova Therapeutics strengthens gene therapy IP estate with latest patent license

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Renova™ Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing gene therapy treatments for congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes, announced today that it has obtained an exclusive worldwide license to a urocortin 3 gene patent from the nonprofit Research Development Foundation (RDF). The patent expands the intellectual property estate of the company, which has previously obtained a license agreement for RDF's patent portfolio of stresscopin and urocortin genes and peptides, paving the way for its paracrine gene therapy product pipeline.

RDF and Renova Therapeutics have entered into a worldwide exclusive license agreement for RDF's patent of the urocortin 3 gene and uses thereof. Renova Therapeutics plans to research this therapeutic gene with the intent to create paracrine gene therapy treatments for sufferers of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, a key therapeutic area for the company.

"Securing rights to the urocortin 3 gene is instrumental to our cardiovascular paracrine gene therapy development pipeline," says Jack W. Reich, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder of Renova Therapeutics. "Just as we have seen astonishing preclinical results with urocortin 2 gene transfer for type 2 diabetes¹, we've seen favorable physiological effects in preclinical models of urocortin 3 gene transfer in heart failure."

Heart failure afflicts more than 28 million people globally and is the only cardiovascular disease that is increasing in prevalence.² It is the most common cause for emergency hospital admissions in patients 65 and older. Paracrine gene therapy is a non-invasive method intended to substantially improve patient outcomes in chronic diseases such as heart failure.

Renova Therapeutics' paracrine gene therapy treatments are based on a novel systemic approach that introduces therapeutic genes capable of directing the body's cells to work more normally. This proprietary approach exploits the use of peptide genes that possess favorable cardio-metabolic effects via their paracrine activity. This single-IV-injection treatment method is a foundation for future products that have the potential to bring about permanent improvements in heart failure and type 2 diabetes patients.

With a worldwide exclusive license secured, one or more of Renova Therapeutics' paracrine gene therapy product candidates may comprise the urocortin 3 gene.

About Renova Therapeutics
Renova Therapeutics is developing definitive, one-time gene therapies and peptide infusion treatments to restore the health of people suffering from chronic diseases. The first indications the company is pursuing are gene therapy treatments for congestive heart failure (CHF) and type 2 diabetes, two of the most common and devastating chronic diseases in the world. The company's lead product, RT-100, is a treatment that delivers a therapeutic gene directly to the heart during a routine outpatient procedure and has the potential to increase heart function in millions of patients with CHF. The company's product pipeline also includes a groundbreaking gene therapy in preclinical stage for sufferers of type 2 diabetes, as well as a peptide infusion therapy for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. Renova Therapeutics was founded in 2009 and is led by an experienced management team in biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy. For additional information about the company, please visit www.renovatherapeutics.com.

REFERENCES:
¹ JCI Insight. 2016;1(15):e88322. doi:10.1172/jci.insight.88322.
² Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics–2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013;127:e6–e245.

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