Zosano Provides Patent Application Update FR

FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zosano Pharma Corporation (NASDAQ: ZSAN ) (“Zosano” or the “Company”) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on providing rapid systemic administration of therapeutics to patients using our proprietary ADAM technology, received official written notification of an Office action from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today regarding our patent application 15/438,455 “Method of rapidly achieving therapeutic concentrations of triptans for treatment of migraines.”     

As previously reported, this patent application was published by the USPTO on August 24, 2017.  The notification of Office action by the USPTO was reported on the USPTO’s public website.  There is a clear and defined process in place that allows Zosano to continue its ongoing dialog with the USPTO to provide arguments and evidence to support its application and, if necessary, to refine the Company’s claims.  The Company intends to actively address the comments made by the USPTO and work with the USPTO to achieve consensus on a form that would support patent issuance.  

The Company is in ongoing discussions with the USPTO regarding this application and the ultimate outcome of these ongoing discussions remains uncertain.  The Company may not be able to address the questions raised by the USPTO and the application may not result in the issuance of a patent in its current form or a revised version thereof.

“We want to reiterate to our shareholders that M207 is currently protected through 2027 by our existing issued patent 9421351 that covers our microneedle technology,” said Georgia Erbez, Chief Business Officer and CFO. “If issued, patent application 15/438,455 would extend patent coverage through 2037.  We respect the USPTO’s patent prosecution process and do not intend to provide further comments or updates until the prosecution process has been completed.” 

About Zosano Pharma Zosano Pharma Corporation is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on providing rapid systemic administration of therapeutics to patients using our proprietary Adhesive Dermally-Applied Microarray, or ADAM, technology.  The Company recently announced positive results from our ZOTRIP study that evaluated M207, which is our proprietary formulation of zolmitriptan delivered via our ADAM technology, as an acute treatment for migraine.  Zosano is focused on developing products where rapid administration of established molecules with known safety and efficacy profiles provides an increased benefit to patients, for markets where patients remain underserved by existing therapies. The Company anticipates that many of its current and future development programs may enable the Company to utilize a regulatory pathway that would streamline clinical development and accelerate the path towards commercialization. Learn more at  www.zosanopharma.com . 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the continuing discussions between Zosano and the USPTO regarding U.S. Patent Application No. 15/438,455. Readers are urged to consider statements that include the words "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "might," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "continues," "forecast," "designed," "goal," "unaudited," "approximately" or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and actual outcomes may differ materially. These include risks and uncertainties, without limitation, associated with the USPTO reaching a final decision not to issue a patent to Zosano and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot in any way guarantee that the future results, level of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Zosano and Zosano assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Zosano Contact: Georgia Erbez Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer 510-745-1200