The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent No. 10,874,818, titled “Aerosol Delivery System,” covering technology used in the delivery of Windtree Therapeutics’ Aerosurf aerosolized KL4 surfactant, Windtree said. The company redesigned the aerosol delivery system (ADS) platform prior to initiating Phase 3 studies of Aerosurf after problems with the prototype delivery system apparently caused a Phase 2b trial to fail to meet its primary endpoint. In April 2020, Windtree announced that it had initiated a Phase 2b bridging study of Aerosurf in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) using the new device.
According to Windtree the patent covers technology that will make it easier to modify the delivery device for additional uses, including for use by adults, and it extends protection of the IP until 2039. The company says that it “is facilitating transfer of clinical development of Aerosurf to its licensee in Asia, Lee’s HK, while Windtree evaluates other uses for its synthetic KL4 surfactant for the treatment of acute pulmonary conditions including lung injury due to viral, chemical and radiation induced insults.”
Windtree Therapeutics CEO and President Craig Fraser commented, “We are pleased to strengthen our intellectual property protection with the addition of the US patent covering a key element in our Aerosurf drug delivery device. This new in-licensed patent expands our overall IP portfolio surrounding Aerosurf. We are active in strengthening the global patent estate for all of our assets and technology, not just with Aerosurf but also with our cardiovascular portfolio including our lead asset, istaroxime, for acute heart failure.”
Read the Windtree Therapeutics press release.
