Swedish biotechnology company Diamyd Medical AB (Nasdaq First North Growth Market:DMYD-B) announced on Monday that the European Patent Office (EPO) has said it will grant Diamyd Medical a patent protecting the use of insulin-based antigens to treat autoimmune diabetes in patients carrying the HLA DR4-DQ8 genetic marker.

The new patent will be valid until 2035 and marks a significant advancement in the company's precision medicine approach.

The patent complements Diamyd Medical's existing work targeting the HLA DR3-DQ2 genotype through its GAD-specific immunotherapy, Diamyd, currently in a Phase 3 trial. Research indicates that patients with the DR4-DQ8 profile may also benefit from insulin-specific immunotherapy.

HLA DR3-DQ2 and DR4-DQ8 markers together are present in up to 90% of individuals with Type 1 diabetes, underscoring the clinical relevance of this strategy. Diamyd Medical views this patent as a key validation of its focus on genetically guided, individualised treatments for autoimmune diabetes.