The European Patent Office today announced the granting of a patent for a method for producing a leukocyte preparation and the leukocyte preparations themselves. The owners of the European patent are ARTCLINE GmbH and the Fraunhofer-Institute in equal proportions. The exploitation in terms of the corresponding products will be carried out by ARTCLINE.
The patent is valid until 2033. ARTCLINE therefore has the exclusive rights for this innovative method and this novel immune cell product for Europe.
This actual invention is a method for producing a leukocyte preparation from specific blood donations. On the other hand, it concerns a correspondingly manufactured leukocyte preparation and the use of it.
The transfusion of leukocytes (white blood cells), especially granulocytes, is a supportive therapy for patients with a life-threatening deficiency or malfunction of the immune cells. Granulocyte transfusions can combat or prevent infections in these kind of patients. Beside immune cells, also blood plasma, a high number of thrombocytes (blood platelets) and erythrocytes (red blood cells) are parts of these granulocyte transfusions.
The patented method describes a purification process in which purer immune cell preparations can be produced but also be stored for a certain period of time. Previous granulocyte transfusion preparations must be transfused within 24 hours after donation.
ARTCLINE has been working successfully on this project with the Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology since 2011. Among others, Dr. Jens Altrichter and Dipl.-Biol. Fanny Doss from ARTCLINE, Prof. Steffen Mitzner, Rostock University Medical Center and Fraunhofer-Institute and also Dr. Kathleen Selleng from the University Medical Center Greifswald are the inventors of the method.
“We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone. Receiving the European patent strengthens our position in the cell therapy market”, says Dr. Altrichter, CEO of ARTCLINE. “Of course, this is only one step on our way to becoming a comprehensive therapy provider for patients with severe infections. At this point I would like to point out the excellent cooperation with the team of the Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, in particular the EXIM Rostock branch office and the Universities in Rostock and Greifswald.
In case of general questions or news-related questions: info@artcline.de