Virtual pharmaceutical development company Medical Marketing International Group (MMI) has been informed that its US patent is to be extended to cover further elements of its ruthenium chemotherapy portfolio.

Following the granting of the extension from the US Patent and Trademark Office, MMI's patent will now include a virtual library of arene and ligand compounds which are still in the testing stages of the company's second generation programme.

News of the development comes as MMI's first-generation compounds are undergoing pre-clinical testing and are progressing well enough to enable the company to push ahead with a clinical trial application in the second half of 2007.

MMI chairman David Best said: "Cytotoxics remain the mainstay of cancer therapy, with the market for these drugs expected to achieve sales of $12.8 billion by 2009. The further strengthening of the patent protection for our vast ruthenium portfolio is particularly welcome as we anticipate the clinical phase of development."

UK-based MMI specialises in developing, acquiring and researching drugs to treat cancer and other debilitating diseases, and works in conjunction with leading academic research organisations.

Sources:
http://www.ag-ip-news.com/GetArticle.asp?Art_ID=4197&lang=en
http://www.mmigroup.co.uk/mmi/companynewsstory.jsp?n=3&s=6&ref=96

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