IRLAB Therapeutics has significantly strengthened its intellectual property position by securing additional patents for two of its leading Parkinson's disease drug candidates, mesdopetam and pirepemat. These new patents are expected to extend market exclusivity for both compounds into the early 2040s, substantially increasing their commercial potential.
The Swedish biopharmaceutical company announced that it has been granted a new European patent (EP3976581B1) for mesdopetam, which specifically protects the active pharmaceutical ingredient used in clinical development. This patent complements the existing substance patents already secured in major markets worldwide.
"The already strong patent protection for mesdopetam is now expanded with a patent which protects the active pharmaceutical ingredient of mesdopetam used in clinical development," said Kristina Torfgård, CEO of IRLAB. "With the extended protection, there is potential to extend market exclusivity for mesdopetam right up to the early 2040s, which is incredibly positive for the value of mesdopetam."
Addressing Critical Unmet Needs in Parkinson's Disease
Mesdopetam is being developed to address levodopa-induced dyskinesias (PD-LIDs), a debilitating side effect that affects more than 30 percent of people living with Parkinson's disease. This represents approximately 1.5 million affected individuals across the eight major pharmaceutical markets worldwide. The newly approved patent, which expires in 2040, covers a specific salt of mesdopetam used in the formulations currently undergoing clinical trials. With the potential addition of a supplementary protection certificate (SPC), exclusivity could extend into the early 2040s.
In a parallel development, IRLAB has also secured an additional U.S. patent for pirepemat, another promising drug candidate in its neurology pipeline. This patent, which has already been granted in Europe, Japan, and China, covers the salt formulation used in ongoing clinical development and is expected to expire in 2038. With awarded patent term adjustment (PTA) and potential patent term extension (PTE), exclusivity in the U.S. market could also reach into the early 2040s.
First-in-Class Treatment for Fall Prevention
Pirepemat represents a potentially groundbreaking approach to a serious complication of Parkinson's disease. "Pirepemat has the potential to become the first treatment in a new class of drugs designed to reduce falls, and thus fall injuries, in people living with Parkinson's disease," Torfgård explained. The company has previously secured composition of matter patents for pirepemat in all major markets, including China, Europe, Japan, and the United States, and recently added a U.S. patent covering the manufacturing process.
The expanded patent protection for both drug candidates significantly enhances IRLAB's commercial position as it advances these treatments through clinical development. The company's strategic approach to intellectual property management aims to maximize the value of its innovative neurology portfolio while ensuring that these potential treatments can reach patients with significant unmet medical needs.
Strategic Importance for IRLAB's Clinical Pipeline
These patent developments come at a critical time for IRLAB as it progresses both compounds through clinical trials. The extended exclusivity periods provide the company with a stronger position for potential partnerships and commercialization strategies, while offering investors greater confidence in the long-term value proposition of these assets.
For patients with Parkinson's disease who currently lack effective treatments for dyskinesias and fall prevention, the continued development of mesdopetam and pirepemat, now with enhanced patent protection, represents a significant step toward addressing these challenging aspects of the disease.
