The patent protects key aspects of Compellis’ novel obesity therapeutic strategy. Compellis has successfully demonstrated its therapeutic effect on weight gain in pre-clinical animal models and the results are published in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

"This patent represents a significant milestone for Compellis as it marks the first issued patent protecting our therapeutic platform for treating obesity," said Chris Adams, president and chief executive officer of Compellis Pharmaceuticals.

"The issuance of this patent follows the completion of rigorous pre-clinical work for our first clinical product, CP404. We are very excited with the significant progress that has been made in demonstrating the ability of our therapeutic approach to produce significant weight loss effects in proven animal models. Compellis will begin human testing of CP404 in 2007,” he added.

The USPTO has recognized the unique aspects of the Compellis therapeutic approach and granted the initial patent in a series of patent applications covering the platform technology. 

CP404 is a calcium channel blocker used in a nasal formulation to block olfactory activity and reduce food intake. Compellis has tested a series of like compounds and believes the effect can be seen in the overall class of calcium channel blockers. The advantage of CP404 is that it is a small molecule that is well tolerated in humans and is readily manufactured.

Based on its prior use in humans for certain other disorders Compellis believes it will be eliminating some of the drawbacks typically associated with unproven compounds. The result will be a focused clinical development process that may result in a faster time to market.