16 May 2019 - - US-based molecular diagnostics company Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE: ENZ) was issued US Patent No. 10,278,960 entitled "Sphingosine Pathway Modulating Compounds for the Treatment of Cancers" that is directed to methods for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common human liver cancer, using the compound Ozanimod, the company said.

Ozanimod is a product of Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ: CELG) that is in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

It targets a different part of the same cell signaling pathway, the "sphingosine pathway," also targeted by Enzo's proprietary sphingosine kinase inhibitor, SK1-I, which Enzo is currently developing for the treatment of HCC.

The sphingosine pathway is a key cellular signaling pathway implicated in various cancers and functions of the immune system. Enzo has already obtained a number of US and foreign patents covering SK1-I and its use in the treatment of cancers.

HCC represents more than 90% of primary human liver cancers and a significant unmet medical need in the United States and globally.

Enzo Biochem is a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, leading the convergence of clinical laboratories, life sciences and intellectual property through the development of unique diagnostic platform technologies that provide numerous advantages over previous standards.

A global company, Enzo Biochem utilizes cross-functional teams to develop and deploy products, systems and services that meet the ever-changing and rapidly growing needs of health care TODAY and into the future.

Underpinning Enzo Biochem's products and technologies is a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio, with patent coverage across a number of key enabling technologies.