patent protection will be strengthened for SCO-101 in the important US market. BioStock contacted the company's CEO Francois Martelet for comment on what this means for Scandion in the long term.
Scandion Oncology leading candidate SCO-101 evaluated in phase IIa and Ib studies CHORUS and PANTAXThese focus on chemotherapy-resistant metastatic colon cancer (mCRC) and pancreatic cancer, where drug resistance affects 90 percent of all patients. This resistance means that most treatments for metastatic cancer fail.
Scandion's Phase Ib study PANTAX was successfully completed in March 2023 and when the final results are available, the company will decide on the next step in the development of SCO-101 as a combination treatment for pancreatic cancer. In the CORIST study, patients are given SCO-101 together with the chemotherapy FOLFIRI, i.e. today's standard of care for mCRC. Topline data is expected later this month.
"This patent is significant in that it provides a very broad protection for a significant amount of time, running until at least 2037. It covers the use of our lead compound SCO-101 with any cancer treatment for a number of different cancers, so it gives us a significant time for freedom to operate.- Francois Martelet, CEO of Scandion Oncology
CEO comments on the US patent announcement
At the end of last week, Scandion received a preliminary ruling from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, meaning that a patent will be officially granted for SCO-101 in the US shortly.
BioStock contacted Scandion's CEO Francois Martelet to find out what the patent announcement means for the company as it moves forward with SCO-101 in clinical studies.
What significance does the Notice of Allowance for the new patent hold for Scandion Oncology's lead compound SCO-101 in the US market?
– This patent is significant in that it provides a very broad protection for a significant amount of time, running until at least 2037. It covers the use of our lead compound SCO-101 with any cancer treatment for a number of different cancers, so it gives us a significant time for freedom to operate.
How does the granted patent, covering methods of using SCO-101, contribute to Scandion's strategy in treating resistant cancers, including colorectal and pancreatic cancer?
- Ensuring a strong patent protection of our molecules is a core element of our strategy. As a company based on significant investments in research and development we rely on intellectual protection of our assets and continuously apply for relevant patents related to our discoveries. We have been successful in this also being granted a very important Composition of Matter patent on SCO-101 just last year.
With the extended intellectual protection until at least 2037, how does Scandion plan to leverage this broad patent coverage, especially in targeting earlier lines of treatment for cancer?
- We are, of course, still some way from being able to introduce a new medicine on the market, so it is far too early to speak about such plans in detail. Having said that, this patent does give us the right to exclusively use SCO-101 also in early lines of treatment, which could be a future opportunity for us to expand the potential market.
In what ways does the newly granted patent complement the existing patent exclusivity on SCO-101, and how does it align with Scandion's focus on combination therapy for resistant cancers?
- SCO-101 already has a strong patent protection which is further enhanced with this patent, which basically covers combination treatments specifically and such are of course what we seek to develop at Scandion. Our other patents include use patents and the Composition of Matter patent mentioned.
Finally, what implications do you anticipate the overall patent portfolio will have for potential collaborations and partnerships, and also for Scandion's position in the cancer treatment landscape?
- All biotech companies rely on patents to be able to recoup their investments and create value long term and this also holds true for us. So naturally any potential partner will also see this as important and this patent also strengthens us in that regard.