Patent granted to ScinoPharm for production of irinotecan intermediate.

BIOTECH Patent News, December, 2006

ScinoPharm (Tainan, Taiwan) was awarded a United States patent that relates to the preparation of SN-38, a key intermediate in the synthesis of irinotecan. United States Patent 7,151,179, entitled "Process for the Preparation of 7-Alkyl-10-Hydroxy-20(S)- Camptothecin," was issued on December 19, 2006 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan, is widely used by many new drug companies to develop new camptothecin derivatives. ScinoPharm's proprietary process, circumventing the previous photo chemistry, leads to an enhanced efficiency in the synthesis of SN-38, and hence improves also the cost-efficiency of manufacturing irinotecan as a whole.

"The newly granted patent ensures our competitive edge as...

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