Medical device company MediSieve Ltd, which has
developed the concept of magnetic blood filtration to remove disease-causing
agents from the blood, has been awarded a patent for its product in America.
The technology can potentially transform the
treatment of blood-borne diseases including sepsis, leukaemia and malaria in a
process that’s similar to dialysis.
The patent for MediSieve’s magnetic blood filter
has now been granted in the United States. With patent number US10265457B2,
it’s titled ‘Magnetic filter apparatus and method’ and covers the company’s
filter, magnet and system for extracting magnetic components such as
malaria-infected cells from the bloodstream.
The patent has also been filed under PCT and is pending
in Europe, Canada, Japan, China, India, Brazil and Australia.
Founder of MediSieve Dr George Frodsham, said:
“This is an important step – there’s a big difference between filing a patent
and having it granted. Having patent protection is important to protect our
technology and market share.
“The US is still the world’s biggest healthcare
market, and this cements our position as the global leader in magnetic blood
filtration. It puts us in a strong position against any potential competitors,
and is a milestone validating the innovative nature of our unique technology.
The next step is for the other patents to come through, and we expect this to
start happening soon.”
The patent was granted in late April, and
expires in 2037. It was originally filed in September 2016 through patent
attorney Tom Turano at Boston-based K&L Gates.
MediSieve’s magnetic blood filter removes malaria
infected red blood cells by passing blood through a strong magnetic filter which
captures the infected cells by exploiting their naturally occurring magnetic
properties. The rest of the blood is then returned to the infected
patient. The same device can be used to capture other magnetic components,
namely MediSieve’s magnetic particles designed to bind to specific targets in
blood to enable their removal.
The company aims to launch their malaria
treatment in 2021. The first clinical trials are planned for later in 2019,
before Phase two trials take place in malarial areas.
The patent news comes after MediSieve announced
that it has been awarded two grants from Innovate UK, worth some £1.56m in
all.
MediSieve was established in 2015 as an
independent company and has its origins in University College London. The
company is based in London’s White City, at the Imperial College Translation
and Innovation Hub.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
For more information about MediSieve,
visit https://www.medisieve.com/