Saturday, February 07, 2015
Advanced Prenatal Therapeutics, Inc., a private medical device company developing novel therapies for preeclampsia, is pleased to announce that its patent application for "Treatment of Preeclampsia Using Targeted Apheresis" has been allowed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent describes technology that is the basis for its lead product, the Targeted Apheresis Column for Preeclampsia (TAC-PE), and is estimated to grant protection through at least 2030.
The TAC-PE uses targeted apheresis, a process similar to dialysis, to filter various harmful substances from the mother's blood. Certain substances, such as sFlt-1, are elevated in preeclampsia and are believed to contribute to disease progression and severity. Targeted removal of these harmful factors is likely to result in attenuated symptoms and ultimately result in improved outcomes for both mother and baby.
"We are very pleased that the USPTO recognized the novelty of our approach to treating this devastating disease," states Dr. James Smith, CEO and President of Advanced Prenatal Therapeutics. "We believe this is the first allowance granted for a device specifically designed to treat preeclampsia and represents an important part of our growing intellectual property portfolio."
Preeclampsia is a complex, life-threatening disease that is characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. It affects 5-8% of all pregnancies in the U.S. and 14% of pregnancies worldwide. It is a leading cause of prematurity and maternal/fetal illness and death. Current treatment options, primarily consisting of supportive measures, close monitoring, and premature delivery, are very limited and focused on preserving the life of the mother.
Source : http://finance.yahoo.com
