Patent granted for Roche's new anaemic drug CERA

Roche’s new drug anaemic drug CERA (continuous erythropoietin receptor activator) patent appilcation has been granted in India on 15^th Feb, 2008. Patent No. IN212430 entitled “A CONJUGATE COMPRISING ERYTHROPOIETIN DERIVATIVES” claiming priority from US application Ser. No 60/142,254, 1999-07-02 was filed in India on 29/06/2000 and got published 27/04/2007.

 

CERA is a pegylated derivate of erythropoietin, which provides potent and sustained stimulation of red blood cell formation with longer dosing intervals. Studies have shown that CERA has unique activity at the receptor site. It is postulated this is related to its repeated and rapid attachment and dissociation from the receptor involved in triggering erythropoiesis (red blood cell formation) together with an extended serum half life. This results in more potent stimulation of erythropoiesis, both in magnitude and duration, compared to standard epoetins.