Patent Law Practice Center

NIH Funds Anthrax Vaccine Development

On October 19, 2012, by Notice of Allowance given to iBio, Inc., the United States Patent and Trademark Office allowed patent application 12/668,258 entitled “Yersinia Pestis Antigens, Vaccine Compositions and Related Methods.” The claims cover plague antigens comprising Yersinia pestis F1 protein fused to the company’s thermostable iBioModulator™ protein, as well as vaccine compositions and a method for producing a protective immune response to the antigen. The patent has not yet issued, but the published application relating to the soon-to-be issued patent is US Patent Application No. 20110027304.

Plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and primarily infects animals, but can spread to humans through bites from infected fleas or contact with infected animals. It is also considered a potential bioterrorism weapon, and therefore a priority for effective vaccine development. There is no plague vaccine currently approved for use in the United States.

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