Trethera Announces U.S. Patent Application Filed for TRE-515, Extending Major Markets Exclusivity until 2041

Los Angeles, November 2, 2020— Trethera Corporation (“Trethera”), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel drugs targeting cellular nucleotide metabolism for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases is pleased to announce that it has filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent & Trademark Office for the company’s first-in-class drug TRE-515.  If granted, the patent will provide global market exclusivity until 2041. The company’s outside intellectual property (IP) counsel Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati led the prosecution. 

“As part of our comprehensive IP strategy, the filling of the provisional patent is an important step in Trethera’s mission to build stockholder value even at this early stage of drug development,” said Dr. Kenneth Schultz, Chairman and CEO of Trethera. “When granted, the patent will add an additional six to seven years of market exclusivity and will be wholly owned by Trethera.”  The patent claims cover the unique TRE-515 chemical structure, whether in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, or other diseases.   “It is anticipated that the granting of the new patent will have broad applicability and provide coverage in most countries,” added Dr. Schultz, “including the major pharmaceutical markets of the US, Europe, and Japan.”

Trethera anticipates that it will have opportunities to file additional patents over the next 12-24 months. “The filing of the provisional patent puts us in a strong position to further enhance the IP protection for TRE-515.  A well-designed patent strategy can assist drug companies, like Trethera, recoup their substantial research and development expenses and product launch costs,” concluded Dr. Schultz.

About Trethera

Trethera is a preclinical stage privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering the development of novel treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Founded by prominent UCLA scientists, Trethera is led by experienced management and board members. Trethera’s innovative approach to targeting nucleotide metabolism led to the development of TRE-515, an orally taken capsule.  TRE-515 is a first-in-class preclinical stage drug that inhibits deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), the rate-limiting enzyme in the nucleoside salvage pathway, one of two biosynthetic pathways that generate DNA precursors.  It is believed that some forms of cancer may be preferentially dependent on the salvage pathway to support tumor growth.  Certain autoimmune diseases might respond to TRE-515 treatment.  Trethera is developing TRE-515 for use as a monotherapy or in combination, to precisely target a metabolic vulnerability of cancer cells or autoimmune diseases that will transform outcomes for patients.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Trethera believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are “forward-looking statements,” which may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as “may,” “might,” “will,” “will likely result,” “would,” “should,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “continue,” “target” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Although Trethera has a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained herein, Trethera cautions that such statements are based on current expectations about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors relating to medical and scientific research, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Trethera’s control, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. These potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the extent to which development of any novel cancer therapies or therapies for autoimmune diseases succeeds; whether Trethera would obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to commence human trials or commercialize TRE-515 or any novel therapies resulting from such research; Trethera successfully implementing its growth strategy, including that relating to its disease therapies; the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; changes in economic conditions; competition; and risks and uncertainties applicable to the business of Trethera. The statements in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and Trethera does not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.