IRVINE, Calif., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AtheroNova Inc.
(OTCBB: AHRO), a biotech company focused on the research and
development of compounds to regress atherosclerotic plaque,
announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance for its patent
application for Dissolution of Arterial Plaque. The patent
will issue within the next few months when the US Patent Office
completes its registration process. This announcement culminates
over five years of effort in pursuit of a patent covering the use
of hyodeoxycholic acid for atherosclerotic plaque
lesions.
"We have worked diligently with our patent counsel, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, to achieve this
major milestone and we want to thank them for their efforts," said
AtheroNova CEO Thomas W.
Gardner. "We are very confident that this patent will
support our development project for AHRO-001 and will enhance our
ability to fully capitalize on the intellectual property potential
that this patent represents. We can now move forward with several
additional compounds in the AHRO family described in our patent
applications. AtheroNova is continuing to build significant
momentum as we prepare for initiation of our Phase I clinical
trials later this year."
"We are pleased that the U.S. Patent Office has found
AtheroNova's claims for treating atherosclerosis using a bile acid
to be patentable," stated James W.
Hill, MD, AtheroNova's patent counsel with McDermott Will & Emery. "The method
involves administering the naturally occurring bile acid
hyodeoxycholic acid, or HDCA, to a patient such that its
concentration in the patient's blood is maintained above a certain
level for a period of time. In mice studies at UCLA, HDCA was effective in inhibiting progression
of arterial plaque in a way that may bode well for treatment of
human atherosclerosis."
About AHRO-001
AHRO-001 is AtheroNova's first novel application for the
treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaque
is the primary underlying cause of heart disease and stroke in
industrialized countries. AHRO-001 uses certain pharmacological
compounds to regress atherosclerotic plaque deposits through a
process known as delipidization. Delipidization dissolves plaques
in artery walls, which are then removed by natural body processes.
AtheroNova plans to develop multiple applications for its
patents-pending compounds that can be used in pharmaceutical-grade
products for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis and
related pharmaceutical costs run more than $41 billion annually in the United States alone. Market sectors
potentially served by AHRO-001 include: Cardiovascular Disease,
Stroke, Peripheral Artery Disease, Dementia and Alzheimer's and
Erectile Dysfunction, all of which have been linked to
atherosclerosis.
About AtheroNova
AtheroNova Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AtheroNova
Operations, Inc., is an early stage biotech company focused on
discovery, research, development and licensing of novel compounds
to reduce or regress atherosclerotic plaque deposits. The Company's
focus on compounds to reduce atherosclerotic plaque deposits
addresses the most lucrative segments of the multi-billion dollar
prescription drug market: cardiovascular disease and stroke
prevention. www.AtheroNova.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the
statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are inherently
unreliable and actual results may differ materially. Examples of
forward-looking statements in this news release include statements
regarding the suitability of the compound for its intended use,
mechanisms of action, intellectual property as well as the
development of applications for AtheroNova's technology. Factors
which could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements include such factors as significant
fluctuations in expenses associated with clinical trials, failure
to secure additional financing, the inability to complete
regulatory filings with the Food and Drug Administration, the
introduction of competing products, or management's ability to
attract and maintain qualified personnel necessary for the
development and commercialization of its planned products, and
other information that may be detailed from time to time in
AtheroNova's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. AtheroNova undertakes no obligation to publicly update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE AtheroNova Inc.