Announcement of Communication to Grant a Patent in Europe for Therapeutic Agent for Male Sterility through Administration of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid

SBI Holdings, Inc.
SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yoshitaka Kitao; “SBI Pharmaceuticals”), a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc. (SBIH), engages in research and development of pharmaceuticals, health foods and cosmetics using 5-aminolevulinic acid (“5-ALA”)*1. We are pleased to announce that the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a communication*2 to grant a patent for therapeutic agent for male sterility through administration of 5-ALA.

[European patent application No.] 09 746 363.2
[Title of invention] Therapeutic agent for male sterility
[Patent applicant] SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

SBI Pharmaceuticals will continue to pursue various potential applications of 5-ALA, and focus on research and development to provide pharmaceuticals that satisfy the unmet medical needs of as many people as possible around the world.

*1: 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA): An amino acid created in mitochondria. It is an important substance that serves as protein material related to energy production in the form of hemes and cytochromes, and its productivity is known to decrease with age. 5-ALA is contained in shochu distillation remnants, red wine and food such as radish sprouts. It is also known as a material forming chloroplasts in plants.

*2: A communication under Rule 71(3) EPC. This is equivalent to a notice of a decision to grant a patent in Japan.

******************************************************************************************
For further information, please contact:
SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.: Corporate Planning Dept., Tel: +81 3 6229 0095

Please download PDF File

Mechanical Translations by Google »