The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a notice of allowance (NOA) to BioLineRx's claimed application for BL-1040, a medical device for prevention of cardiac remodeling following an acute myocardial infarction.
BL-1040 is a liquid polymer which is delivered in a bolus injection via the coronary artery during catheterization.
The polymer flows into the damaged heart muscle and creates a scaffold within injured cardiac muscle which enhances cardiac mechanical strength during the healing period and prevent pathological ventricular dilation.
BioLineRx has out-licensed BL-1040 to Ikaria in June 2009, in order to continue the development and commercialization of Bioabsorbable Cardiac Matrix, or BCM (previously named IK-5001).
Ikaria started a CE Mark registration trial, Preservation I clinical trial, for BCM (BL-1040) in December 2011.
BioLineRx CEO Kinneret Savitsky said BL-1040 has demonstrated efficacy at preventing cardiac remodeling following an acute myocardial infarction in pre-clinical studies, giving new hope to patients around the world.
"In addition, we are pleased with the intensive efforts being made by Ikaria, our partner in this project, who is carrying out the CE Mark Registration Trial," Savitsky said.
BioLineRx said additional patents claiming the BL-1040 composition and its use for the treatment of ventricular remodeling and congestive heart failure due to acute myocardial infarction are granted or pending in Europe, Japan, Canada, Korea, Mexico, Israel, India, China and Australia.