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ImmunoMolecular Therapeutics (IM Therapeutics), a company developing personalized small molecule therapies for the treatment of genetically defined autoimmune diseases, today announced the issuance of US Patent 9,629,848 covering the use of methyldopa (MDOPA) and other small molecular entities in immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and US Patent 9,820,957 covering the use of the D enantiomer of methyldopa (D-MDOPA) for T1D and celiac disease. Proprietary molecule, D-MDOPA, is being developed as lead candidate, IMT-002, to inhibit the autoimmune cascade in recent onset T1D patients with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ8 gene.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A13):
"The issuance of these patents ensures that IM Therapeutics has exclusive rights to use methyldopa and D-methyldopa in immunotherapy for T1D and will be essential in solidifying the intellectual property protection of IMT-002 as it advances through the clinic and eventually to commercialization as a potential treatment for the underlying autoimmunity of T1D," said Steve Orndorff, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, IM Therapeutics.

These patents provide further support for IM Therapeutics' celiac disease program that is currently using in silico discovery and proprietary screening assays to identify and validate new small molecule inhibitors of DQ2, the major genetic risk factor for celiac disease and part of the HLA-MHC Class II target platform for autoimmune diseases being explored by IM Therapeutics.

The patents have claims to composition of matter, dosing, formulation, and use, and enhance the protection offered by IM Therapeutics' exclusive, worldwide license from the University of Colorado. IM Therapeutics was previously granted Orphan Drug status for MDOPA, also applicable to D-MDOPA, from the United States Food and Drug Administration, further strengthening marketplace protection for IMT-002.

About IMT-002

IMT-002 (D-methyldopa) is an oral small molecule drug being developed to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) in patients with the HLA-DQ8 gene. IMT-002 occupies the peptide binding groove of DQ8 present on the surface of antigen presenting cells where diabetogenic peptides such as insulin are presented to CD4 T-lymphocytes to initiate the autoimmune cascade. When HLA-DQ8 function is inhibited, the immune system will no longer attack insulin producing beta-cells, thus creating the potential for at risk or early stage patients to maintain normal insulin production.

About IM Therapeutics

IM Therapeutics is developing personalized immuno-therapeutic drugs for autoimmune diseases based on the genetic risk attributed by human leukocyte antigen genes. The lead candidate drug is an oral small molecule that starves the autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes by blocking DQ8 on specific immune cells. Our goal is to preserve pancreatic beta cell function and maintain normal insulin production in at-risk and early-stage patients with type 1 diabetes.
http://imtherapeutics.com/

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