Shield Therapeutics PLC (LON:STX) said the European Patent Office (EPO) has decided in favour of the company in relation to a patent for its lead product Feracru, an iron deficiency treatment.
The AIM-listed firm said that the decision, made by the EPO’s opposition division, related to patent #2 668 175, which covers a "Process for preparing an iron hydroxypyrone".
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The group added that the decision was reached having taken into account Shield's first and preferred minor amendment, follows a hearing in relation to the opposition that had been filed against the patent by a third party.
The company noted that the decision means that the patent as amended and the invention to which it relates meet the requirements of the European Patent Convention and they will continue to provide protection to Feraccru through to 2032.
It pointed out that customary rights of appeal apply to the third-party opposition and said it will continue to “proactively and robustly defend its intellectual property”.
Shield revealed on 24 January that it had been made aware that a third party had raised objections with the EPO to the group's patents (#2 668 175 and # 3 160 951) that cover "Process for preparing an iron hydroxypyrone" and "Crystalline forms of ferric maltol" respectively.
The group said then that, on the basis of specialist advice received and the fact both patents went through an extensive examination process prior to grant, it continues to have full confidence in the validity of the patents which expire in 2032 and 2035.