APR 29, 2015 8:33 AM PDT

Molecular Health Gains European Patent for Novel Receptor

WRITTEN BY: Ilene Schneider
Molecular Health announced it has been granted a patent in Europe entitled "Tissue Protective Erythropoietin Receptor". This latest patent supports Molecular Health's discovery that EPHB4 is a novel receptor for Erythropoietin (EPO), where EPHB4 binds to EPO and promotes tumor growth. EPO stimulates the production of red blood cells and is prescribed to treat anemia resulting from kidney failure or cancer treatment. Approximately 40 percent of cancer patients have anemia, growing to nearly 90 percent of cancer patients when being treated with chemotherapy. Analyzing cancer patient outcomes and available molecular data, Molecular Health scientists identified this novel receptor by utilizing Molecular Health´s computational biomarker discovery platform. This platform enables Molecular Health to support treatment research and development by the biopharmaceutical industry.

EPO has been found to have notable adverse effects in some cases, including accelerated tumor growth and death. As a result, healthcare providers must receive special training prior to prescribing EPO, potentially limiting access and treatment effectiveness for their patients.

"Molecular Health's latest patent has the opportunity to further address an unmet need in the treatment of millions of cancer patients suffering with anemia," said Lutz Voelker, Chief Executive Officer of Molecular Health.

The granting of this latest patent in Europe further develops the opportunity for alleviating treatment toxicities and improving the benefit of EPO therapy in cancer patients. Combined, Molecular Health´s multiple patents detail methods of determining whether a cancer patient is suitable for EPO therapy inter alia by identifying the level of expression of a novel erythropoietin receptor, EPHB4. Molecular Health also holds corresponding patents in the United States and Canada.

Molecular Health is exploring several commercialization channels for offering a predictive test based upon its patented methods.

Source: Molecular Health
About the Author
Bachelor's (BA/BS/Other)
Ilene Schneider is the owner of Schneider the Writer, a firm that provides communications for health care, high technology and service enterprises. Her specialties include public relations, media relations, advertising, journalistic writing, editing, grant writing and corporate creativity consulting services. Prior to starting her own business in 1985, Ilene was editor of the Cleveland edition of TV Guide, associate editor of School Product News (Penton Publishing) and senior public relations representative at Beckman Instruments, Inc. She was profiled in a book, How to Open and Operate a Home-Based Writing Business and listed in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in Advertising and Who's Who in Media and Communications. She was the recipient of the Women in Communications, Inc. Clarion Award in advertising. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Ilene and her family have lived in Irvine, California, since 1978.
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