Swedish biotechnology company Diamyd Medical AB (Nasdaq First North Growth Market:DMYD-B) on Tuesday announced that the South Korean Patent Office has granted a patent for the use of insulin-based antigens to treat autoimmune diabetes in patients with the HLA DR4-DQ8 genetic marker.

This patent, valid until 2035, is the first of its kind globally and reinforces the importance of precision medicine in diabetes care.

Diamyd Medical is currently conducting a Phase 3 trial with its GAD-specific immunotherapy Diamyd in patients with HLA DR3-DQ2, another genetically distinct subgroup of Type 1 diabetes patients.

Up to 90% of Type 1 diabetes patients carry either the HLA DR3-DQ2 or HLA DR4-DQ8 genetic markers.