SciFluor Granted U.S. Patent for KCNQ2/3 Activator to Treat ALS and Epilepsy

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently granted clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and subsidiary of Allied Minds, SciFluor Life Sciences, LLC, a patent for one of their novel pipeline compounds, SF0034, a potent and selective neuronal potassium channel activator that is being studied for the treatment of epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and tinnitus. The U.S. Patent No. 8,916,133 is expected to accelerate the research programs for SF0034 being conducted by the SciFluor.

SciFluor Life Sciences, is dedicated to the development of novel therapies for neurological and ophthalmic applications, announced in a press release, that the compound was designed to be an improved variant of the KCNQ2/3 activator drug, ezogabine (POTIGA), which was approved to treat adults with partial-onset epilepsy in 2011 but was discontinued later in 2013 due to latent toxicities.

“The issuance of the patent covering SF0034 provides further validation of our fluorine-centered approach to rapidly discover new transformational therapies for patients with serious illnesses,” stated the Vice President and General Manager of SciFluor, Scott Edwards. “SF0034 demonstrates how the appropriate fluorine-containing modifications can improve the potency and selectivity of a molecule to address efficacy and safety liabilities.”

Edwards is also leading the therapeutic program dedicated to SF0034. The compound is being studied primarily as a potential treatment for epilepsy, but also for other conditions, including ALS and tinnitus. “The team’s ability to rapidly evolve this candidate and to obtain its second issued patent in a short period of time is outstanding. Protecting this lead compound in such an enormous field as epilepsy is highly impressive,” said the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President at Allied Minds, Omar Amirana, MD.

“We are excited to advance this compound into the clinic for multiple indications,” added Amirana. “This is the second of many opportunities at SciFluor that we are pursuing to strategically capitalize on the transformational power of fluorine through internal development. We are also now preparing for partnerships with other innovative pharma companies.”

SciFluor is determined to continue advancing studies on SF0034, with a main goal to prove the compound’s ability to decrease side-effects related to the activation of associated potassium channels.