Carmel Valley-Based MEI Pharma Issued New Patent for Cancer Drug

Carmel Valley-based MEI Pharma (NASDAQ: MEIP) announced Tuesday that it received a new European patent for a drug used to treat cancer. The oncology company, which focuses on the clinical development of therapies for cancer, received the patent for its lead mitochondrial inhibitor drug — ME-344.

“This key European patent further reinforces the intellectual property protection surrounding our portfolio of oncology drug candidates,” said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., president and CEO of MEI Pharma in an announcement. “While we continue to execute our Phase I clinical trial for ME-344 and prepare for our upcoming Phase II trials, we believe a strong patent estate will help to provide a clear development path forward and enhance our partnering efforts in the U.S. and abroad."

The company reported that a Phase I clinical trial for ME-344 in patients with solid refractory tumors is ongoing.

MEI Pharma's intellectual property portfolio now includes 18 U.S. patents and more than 150 foreign patents.