Curative Biotechnology Secures Canadian Patent for Novel Retinal Degeneration Target
Key Insights
Curative Biotechnology (search) received Canadian patent allowance for a novel pharmacological target to treat retinal degenerative diseases, developed by the National Eye Institute.
The patent includes 22 claims covering topical ocular delivery approaches for metformin-based formulations, aligning with the company's eye drop development strategy.
The company plans to expand its metformin-based program into canine retinal diseases and advance human clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration (search) in 2026.
Curative Biotechnology (search), Inc. (OTC: CUBT) announced that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for Canadian Patent Application No. 3,151,011, entitled "Druggable Target to Treat Retinal Degeneration (search)." The development represents a significant milestone for the company's ophthalmology platform, which focuses on metformin-based eye drops for degenerative eye diseases.
The patent technology originates from research conducted under the leadership of Dr. Kapil Bharti and his team at the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Curative holds exclusive worldwide licensing rights to this technology through a patent license agreement with the NEI. The invention identifies a novel pharmacological target with potential relevance to the progression of retinal degenerative diseases.
Patent Portfolio Expansion
"This allowance in Canada represents an important step in our strategy to build a global intellectual property portfolio supporting our ophthalmology platform," said Paul Michaels, Chairman and President of Curative Biotechnology (search).
The Canadian patent encompasses 22 allowed claims, including specific claims directed toward topical ocular delivery approaches relevant to metformin-based formulations. This aligns directly with the company's intended route of administration for its therapeutic candidates. The patent is expected to formally issue in the coming months.
Veterinary Development Pathway
Curative has previously announced plans to expand development of its metformin-based eye drop program into select canine retinal degenerative indications. The company notes that disease mechanisms in these conditions closely parallel those observed in human retinal degeneration (search), creating a parallel development pathway that may enhance the overall platform value while addressing unmet needs in veterinary ophthalmology.
Initial target indications for the canine program include Progressive Retinal Atrophy (search) (PRA) and Progressive Rod and Cone Disease (search) (PRCD), described as a rare retinal disease in canines.
Human Clinical Development
The company's primary focus remains its degenerative eye disease platform, supported by the worldwide exclusive license from the NEI. Curative's initial therapeutic candidate is a metformin-based reformulation intended for the treatment of intermediate and late-stage Age-Related Macular Degeneration (search) (AMD).
A first-in-human clinical trial is planned for 2026, subject to regulatory and operational readiness, under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the NEI. This timeline positions the company to advance from preclinical development to human testing within the next two years.
Company Profile
Curative Biotechnology (search) operates as a development-stage biomedical company focused on identifying and developing novel therapeutic approaches for rare diseases. The company maintains programs across multiple therapeutic areas, including degenerative eye disease, infectious disease, and neuro-oncology, with an emphasis on disease-modifying therapeutic drug candidates for rare disease indications.