Heptares Extends Global Patent Protection for GPCR-Focused Drug Discovery Platform With Grant of Core Patents in the United States

LONDON and BOSTON, December 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Heptares Therapeutics, the leading GPCR structure-guided drug discovery and development company, is pleased to announce the grant of multiple key patents in the United States relating to its GPCR-focused drug discovery platform. The grant of these patents in the US significantly strengthens the global patent estate covering Heptares' technologies and products in the major pharmaceutical markets.

The suite of patents recently granted by the US Patent Office covers Heptares technology platform for the creation of thermostabilised G protein-coupled receptors (StaR® proteins) and their use for drug screening and structure-based drug design. These include: US 8785135, which is also granted in Europe, China, Japan and Australia; US 8748182 and US 8790933. These patents, along with others that are granted or pending, provide breadth and depth to the protection of Heptares' technology platform in all major territories.

Malcolm Weir, CEO of Heptares, said: "The grant of these patents in the key territory of the United States is a landmark achievement for Heptares. Our expanding global patent estate, on both technology and products from our discovery pipeline reinforces the company's global leadership position in the creation of new medicines targeting GPCRs."

About Heptares Therapeutics 

Heptares creates transformative medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a superfamily of drug receptors linked to a wide range of human diseases. Our proprietary structure-based drug design technology enables us to engineer drugs for highly validated, yet historically undruggable or challenging, GPCRs. Using this approach, we have built an exciting pipeline of new medicines with the potential to transform the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, ADHD, diabetes, schizophrenia, migraine, and other diseases. Our pharmaceutical partners include Cubist, MorphoSys, Takeda, AstraZeneca and MedImmune, and we are backed by Clarus Ventures, MVM Life Science Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, the Stanley Family Foundation and Takeda Ventures. To learn more about Heptares, please visit http://www.heptares.com 

HEPTARES is a registered trademark in the EU, Switzerland, US and Japan;  

StaR is a registered trademark in the EU and Japan.