23 May 2019 - - The Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle, the French Patent Office, has issued three new patents to French clinical stage company MaaT Pharma covering its sample collection device and the overall processes associated with obtaining, processing, storing and administering human gut samples, ensuring that the highest quality of microbiota is present in MaaT Pharma's biologic drugs, the company said.

In addition, the patents cover an innovative process to freeze-dry samples preserving the viability and taxonomic profile of the microbiome and enabling the development of an oral formulation.

These patented processes developed under a five year research collaboration with the French National Institute for Agricultural Research are a fundamental part of MaaT Pharma's integrated Microbiome Restoration Biotherapeutic platform and have a broad applicability in treating dysbiosis-related diseases.

The IP provides coverage until at least 2035 and includes:

Patent FR 1553721: The design and applicability of the device used to collect stool samples from individuals is broadly covered by this patent and is the first device in the world to receive CE mark for the method of sample collection and processing.

Patent FR 1553716: This patent, co-owned by MaaT Pharma and INRA, covers the composition and the application of the cryoprotectant used in MaaT Pharma's proprietary production process that helps to preserve the full diversity of the gut microbiome.

Patent FR 1562750: This patent, co-owned by MaaT Pharma and INRA, set the baseline of MaaT Pharma's innovative method to freeze-dry a microbiome sample is a unique approach to generate microbiome-based capsule formulations that maintain a high viability of the microbiota.

The three above-mentioned granted patents are also under examination through PCT international patent applications in important global markets. The company will continue to pursue the grant of additional patents covering their therapeutic products and technologies.

The Class II CE mark covers MaaT Pharma's system of devices, including its device enabling the storage of material and subsequent administration to the patient with the highest level of safety.

MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage company, has established the most complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis to improve survival outcomes in life-threatening diseases.

Committed to treating blood cancers and Graft-versus-Host-Disease, a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has already achieved proof of concept in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Supporting the further expansion of our pipeline into larger indications, we have built a powerful discovery and analysis platform to evaluate drug candidates, determine novel disease targets and identify biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions.

Its therapeutics are produced through a standardised cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome.

MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of scientists and established relationships with regulators to spearhead microbiome treatment integration into clinical practice.