That is a patent application by InCellDx to use CCL5/RANTES as a biomarker for Covid. It has nothing to do with using leronlimab to treat Covid. They are independent, as one really doesn't need to measure RANTES levels to treat with leronlimab for Covid, and CYDY will not owe InCellDx anything. In fact, InCellDx owes CYDY royalties for every kit it sells to measure CCR5 occupancy using our antibody leronlimab. At this point, it's purely an academic excercise to measure RANTES/CCL5, without any proven therapeutic or other benefit, and for CYDY the measurement of this cytokine biomarker just helps confirm the rationale for using a CCR5 antagonist and for understanding the MOA of LL in Covid.

I think the breakup had more to do with (1) InCellDx allegedly being unable to measure receptor occupancy to the FDA's satisfaction (and at a fair price?), and (2) differences in opinion on how to run trials, with BP wanting to check everyone for RANTES and other cytokine biomarkers (sold by InCellDx) and stratifying or treating based on these biomarkers; also possibly (3) clashes of egos or unknown disagreement for who gets credit or payment for using leronlimab in Covid (i.e. the companies are more competitors - e.g. BP collaborating with other CCR5 antagonist companies on trials - versus collaborators), as you speculated like about the patent or other rights.

Who knows?