Newron Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for central and peripheral nervous system disorders, has announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) has granted an additional patent for its lead compound, evenamide.

 

The new composition of matter patent covers crystalline forms of evenamide, methods for their preparation, and therapeutic uses, with protection extending through 2044.

 

“This European Patent Office decision is evidence of our comprehensive strategy to continuously strengthen the intellectual property protecting our key assets,” said Elena Barbanti, Newron’s Senior Director Intellectual Property (IP).

 

Stefan Weber, CEO of Newron, added: “This is an important milestone for Newron and a testament to the outstanding work of our IP team. We expect this new patent will extend the exclusivity runway for evenamide, supporting our efforts to maximize its therapeutic and commercial potential. 

 

"This drug candidate, which is currently progressing through pivotal clinical studies, has the potential to become the first add-on therapy for schizophrenia patients who do not respond adequately, or are resistant to, existing antipsychotic therapies, in our assessment constituting the vast majority of patients suffering from schizophrenia.”

 

Newron has already completed entry into national phases for counterpart applications in all key countries, further solidifying its intellectual property around evenamide.

 

A significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia show little to no benefit from existing antipsychotics, leading to a diagnosis of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Defined as inadequate symptom relief despite therapeutic doses of two antipsychotics from different chemical classes, TRS affects roughly 15% of patients from illness onset and up to 50% overall. Emerging evidence underscores the urgent need for new therapeutic options.