February 18, 2021 -- OSE Immunotherapeutics has been granted a patent by the European Patent Office (EPO) for the intellectual property rights for its anti-interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) antagonist, OSE-127/S95011. The patent covers the product and its therapeutic applications in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases through 2037.
The newly patented product is a immunomodulatory monoclonal antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of IL-7R that induces a powerful antagonist effect on effector T lymphocytes.
OSE-127/S95011 is being developed in partnership with Servier under an option agreement up to the completion of two phase II clinical studies and the exercise of an option under successful completion of at least one of the trials.
The company began enrollment in a phase II study, sponsored by OSE, evaluating the product in patients with ulcerative colitis in December 2020. In addition to the study in ulcerative colitis, Servier will sponsor a phase II study of the product in Sjögren's syndrome, which is expected to start shortly.
OSE is eligible to receive an approximately 5 million euro ($6 million U.S.) milestone payment from Servier upon enrollment of the first patient in the Sjögren's syndrome study.