Patents: The Road For Chinese Medicines to Enter International Markets
The Academy of Military Medical Sciences, PRC and Phytopharm plc, UK recently signed a Collaboration and Licence Agreement to develop novel functional foods and pharmaceuticals, including a product derived from Chinese medicine (“NJS”) for memory and concentration with potential application in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, paving the way for Chinese medicine to enter international markets.
NJS has been found to possess properties for memory and concentration and is a type of steroidal saponins derived from Chinese medicine. The purity of the compound reaches 99% and can be widely sourced and extracted from wild or cultivated Chinese herbs. Apart from possessing memory and concentration properties, NJS is safe and has novel mechanistic properties which can be potentially used as a long-term medicines or health products for preventative measure or by patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, hence broad commercial prospects.
Prof. Ma Bai-ping, Principal Investigator at the Institute of Radiation Medicine, the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing led the research team over ten years to complete pre-clinical research related to NJS. The project was initially funded by the Science and Technology Commission in Beijing, National Natural Science Foundation of China and Jiangzhong Medical Co. Ltd. The researchers have filed for patent protection in major markets including China, Europe, USA, Japan and Korea. So far patents have been granted in China, USA and Korea with patents pending in other countries. Furthermore, the team has strengthened intellectual property protection by filing patents to cover processing, new application areas and derivatives of the products.
As regards the Collaboration and Licence Agreement, the Beijing Institute has granted an exclusive licence to Phytopharm to develop and commercialise related products globally (e.g. in the UK, Germany, USA etc.) in return for royalty and milestone payments. The Beijing Institute retains the ownership of all the intellectual properties and will technology transfer the know-how to Phytopharm.
Development of medicines requires significant investments, hence the need for patent protection. Facing the difficulties to promote Chinese medicine-based products to international markets, the Beijing Institute has resorted to licensing of patents to overseas firms. This successful licensing case marks the progressive international recognition of the application value and level of R&D outputs in the Mainland China, and paves the way for Chinese medicines to enter international markets.
Sources: Phytopharm plc., the State Intellectual Property Office and China TCM Journal
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