Medlab’s NRGBiotic depression patent formally accepted by European watchdog

Medlab Clinical’s protection of its NRGBiotic has been given a win with formal acceptance of a depression patent in Europe.

Aussie biotech Medlab Clinical (ASX:MDC) has announce that the European Patent Office has formalised acceptance of the company’s depression patent, paving the way for it to be granted within the next two to three months.

The patent strategically secures work completed in its depression trial, specifically around certain drug substances and their treatment potential for major depressive disorders.

Medlab undertook the depression study with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for its NRGBiotic patented product for depressive disorders.

Medlab said mental health, including depression, currently impacts approximately 10% of the global population with one third of patients who are prescribed an anti-depressant non-responsive to existing therapy.

NRGBiotic shows promising signs

The study was conducted with one third of participants being non-responder patients, and outcomes showed using Medlab’s NRGBiotic alongside an anti-depressant was significantly more effective than taking the anti-depressant alone.

Participants taking both NRGBiotic and an anti-depressant had greater symptom remission over the eight weeks period than those on an anti-depressant alone.

Furthermore, incidence of dysbiosis (imbalance in gut microbiota) assessed by faecal analysis showed both groups were dysbiotic.

The findings held to the premise that anti-depressant medications adversely affect intestinal bacteria, leading to an unbalanced, dysbiotic gut.

Secondary findings included participants taking both NRGBiotic and an anti-depressant had greater proportional increase in quality of life (QoL) scale from baseline to eight weeks, than those on anti-depressants alone.

Participants taking both NRGBiotic and an anti-depressant had greater improvement in non-clinical levels of symptoms such as interpersonal and social reactions than those on anti-depressant medications alone.

The proportion of participants with a reduction in lipopolysaccharides (LPS^) showed no noticeable differences between the groups.

Patent opens markets

Once fully granted, Medlab is expecting protection in up to 36 jurisdictions including the UK, Europe and Scandinavia.

In April, Medlab announced its first global partnering deal for NRGBiotic with Cultech based in the UK.

NRGBiotic is manufactured by UK-based Cultech for worldwide use, with a three-year trade deal that will see it initially enter the giant UK health pharmacy sector, with the optionality for European and US expansion.

This article was developed in collaboration with Medlab Clinical, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

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