The first Russian patents relating to the treatment of COVID-19 have been granted. Last week, the Russian Patent Office granted three patents to a Russian applicant, Federal Medical-Biological Agency.
The patent applications were filed in April and May 2020, and benefited from the Patent Office’s prioritized, fast-track examination (please see the news here).
The inventions relate to a hexapeptide of formula H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg-OH, with molecular formula C35H51N9O8 and molecular mass of 725,84 Daltons. The compound is also known and commercially available under the name Dalargin, and has previously been reported to show antioxidant, anti-ischemic, and wound-healing properties.
Patent RU 2 728 938 (granted on 3 August 2020) discloses the use of a medicinal product comprising said hexapeptide as active ingredient. According to the applicant, the use can prevent or reduce complications that occur after infection, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia. In particular, the use of said product prevents the development of pneumonia as well as reduces the risk of adverse consequences of developing pneumonia.
According to patent RU 2 728 939 (granted on 3 August 2020), the hexapeptide or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof can be used in the treatment of COVID-19. The preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said hexapeptide is hexapeptide diacetate having molecular formula C35H51N9O8 x2C2H4N2. Testing in animals showed that the introduction of said hexapeptide diacetate as an inhalation dosage form as well as injection dosage form effectively reduces the lethality of mice. The medicament is currently awaiting clinical trials.
Patent RU 2 728 821 (granted on 31 July 2020) discloses a method of treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome by administering effective amounts of a pulmonary surfactant and the hexapeptide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. According to the applicant, the combined use of a pulmonary surfactant and the hexapeptide synergistically reduces the risk of mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
The granted patents do not seem to relate to the vaccine Sputnik-V, which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Various sources have reported that the vaccine uses an adenovirus to deliver the components of the pathogen causing Covid-19.
According to the Patent Office’s press release three additional patent applications relating to medicaments comprising the hexapeptide are currently pending.
Please find here an English translation of the granted claims.
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