GeNO LLC Receives Two Additional Patents For Inhaled Nitric Oxide Drug Delivery

WALTHAM, Ma., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GeNO LLC (www.genollc.com), a privately held biotechnology company developing a line of inhaled nitric oxide drug products, today announced it has been awarded two new US patents on its proprietary nitric oxide (NO) generation and delivery technology. This brings to twelve (12) the number of US patents that have been awarded to GeNO.

US patent number 8,173,072 describes the conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) to nitric oxide (NO) in a gas stream using the GeNO cartridge technology. The output gas is highly purified NO intended for inhalation therapy for the treatment of acute and chronic forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension and other medical uses. This patent expires in 2030.

US patent number 8,187,544 describes a unique method for scavenging traces of toxic nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) from a gas stream prior to inhalation by a patient.  The patent on this new technology expires in 2029.

"These two new patents are important additions to our company's strong intellectual property portfolio, and extend the company's patent protection into year 2030," said GeNO LLC Founder and President Dr. David Fine. "It is unusual for a drug company already in Phase 2 clinical trials to have 18 years of patent protection on its key chemistry."

GeNO is developing three unique nitric oxide delivery platforms: a stand-alone gas cylinder system for hospital and outpatient use, a ventilator-based platform for Intensive Care Unit use, and a pocket-sized ambulatory system for chronic outpatient use. All of the platforms are designed to deliver extremely low levels of the toxic byproduct nitrogen dioxide that are undetectable by conventional means, while also addressing the cost, complexity and lack of portability of approved inhaled nitric oxide treatment systems.  GeNO nitric oxide gas has the potential for treatment of a multitude of serious pulmonary and cardiac diseases, and potentially could reach a much larger group of patients.

GeNO recently completed a Phase 2 pilot study of its nitric oxide for use as a diagnostic in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). The company is currently performing a dose-escalation trial for the Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension in patients with PAH and Pulmonary Hypertension secondary to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (PH-IPF). Additional study details can be found on http://clinicaltrials.gov/ -- ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01265888.   At present, GeNO's delivery technologies are investigational and are not approved by regulatory authorities.

ABOUT GENO LLC                                        
GeNO LLC, founded in 2006, is a privately held biotechnology company that is developing innovative nitric oxide (NO) generation and delivery platforms to enable the true potential of inhaled nitric oxide to be realized for the treatment of a multitude of diseases. The company is focused on applying its technology to delivering inhaled NO to patients in a variety of settings, including ambulatory and in-home use for potential chronic treatment.  GeNO will provide stand-alone medical devices and combination products that include the base delivery system and GeNO's nitric oxide gas.  GeNO's systems have been designated as Combination Products by the FDA Office of Combination Products, with the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products designated as the lead reviewer for GeNO's initial INDs. The combination products will be regulated by the FDA as new drugs with their own NDAs.

SOURCE GeNO LLC