Lab21 secures hepatitis C drug resistance patents

Lab21 has announced the acquisition of patents in the US and Europe pertaining to drug resistance genotyping for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The newly-secured patents cover technology allowing the genotypic identification of drug-resistant mutations of the four major global genotypes of HCV, an area of growing commercial interest.

Lab21 has been able to successfully extend its original European patent approvals secured in 2009, while also making its first ever North American patent application.

This builds on the company's growing intellectual property portfolio and will allow the company to capitalise on demand for small molecule HCV therapeutics.

Graham Mullis, chief executive officer of Lab21, said: "Given the significant market opportunity that HCV drug resistance presents … Lab21 is looking to not only have its own commercially available assay but is actively seeking partners who are interested in developing such products."

Last month, the company announced a new partnership with an unnamed diagnostics business to develop an Aspergillus molecular assay.