Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (OPXA), a biopharmaceutical company developing personalized immunotherapies for autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), today announced the expansion of its intellectual property portfolio. Opexa’s intellectual property portfolio has grown to reach 98 issued and validated patents worldwide. Additionally, Opexa is expanding its IP protection to cover B-cell mediated diseases in connection with its recently announced development program in Neuromyelitis Optica.

Opexa recently received a Notice of Allowance for Canadian patent No. 2,459,969, entitled,“Autologous T-Cell Vaccines Materials and Methods,” which broadly covers the Company’s core T-cell technology platform for the development of patient-specific immunotherapies. Once issued, this will bring the number of granted and validated patents (U.S. and international) in the Company’s IP portfolio to 98, including in-licensed patents. This group of patents mainly covers T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, Opexa recently filed a U.S. provisional patent application in conjunction with the expansion of its innovative technology into B-cell mediated autoimmune disorders, including for diseases with significant unmet needs, such as NMO. Additional pending provisional applications are directed toward Opexa’s proprietary protocols for testing the potency of therapeutic T-cell vaccines and its proprietary screening assay, important for its personalized approach.

“Over the past several years, Opexa has built a significant IP estate around autoimmune diseases that are primarily T-cell mediated diseases, such as multiple sclerosis,” said Neil K. Warma, Opexa’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This portfolio now includes almost 100 issued patents in the U.S. and internationally. With our recent move into NMO, which is a B-cell mediated disease, we are now pursuing patent coverage that may extend our IP protection across a much broader range of autoimmune disorders, i.e., both T-cell and B-cell disorders. This should enhance our position as a leader in the treatment of autoimmune disorders using personalized immunotherapies.”

Visit our MS Learning Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/msviewsandnews