Scil Technology Acquires Rights to Worldwide Patents for CD-RAP from Roche Diagnostics GmbH
Scil Technology, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of dental and orthopaedic tissue regeneration products, today announced that it had acquired the worldwide patents and patent applications concerning the substance and production of the growth factor MIA/CD-RAP from Roche Diagnostics GmbH. This completes Scil Technology's underlying basic patent portfolio allowing full use of CD-RAP in the Company's development programme for the treatment of cartilage disorders. Scil Technology in turn licensed back the use of CD-RAP to Roche Diagnostics GmbH for their research diagnostics. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
Scil Technology is using a recombinant version of CD-RAP (rhCD-RAP) as a cartilage growth factor in its cartilage regeneration programme. rhCD-RAP is highly specific for cartilage tissue. It has been shown to play a crucial role during cartilage formation in embryonic development and in the matrix stimulation of chondrocytes in adult animals. Furthermore it has been shown to stimulate cartilage synthesis in in vitro studies with chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients. These properties make rhCD-RAP a highly promising candidate for cartilage regeneration in indications such as chondral defects and osteoarthritis.
Dr Irina Staatz-Granzer, Managing Director of Scil Technology, commented: "The acquisition of this patent completes our intellectual ownership of this promising cartilage growth factor, which gives us complete freedom to operate in using CD-RAP for the development of novel cartilage regenerative products ."
ST03A, Scil's lead regenerative cartilage product, is a biodegradable implant for the treatment of osteochondral defects such as knee injuries. It consists of a combination of rhCD-RAP and a carrier matrix allowing for controlled release of the growth factor to the defect site.
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