FIT Biotech Oy: FIT Biotech granted U.S. patent fo

FIT Biotech Oy 

Company release 30.11.2017 at 9.30

FIT Biotech granted U.S. patent for treating HIV

FIT Biotech Oy ("Company") today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent titled "Methods of treating HIV diseases using novel expression vectors". The patent grants the Company exclusive rights to exploit its GTU®-based DNA vaccines, including FIT-06, for the treatment of HIV patients.

Over 37 million people suffer from HIV worldwide and approximately 2 million new infections occur every year. This poses an enormous economic burden particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where almost half of HIV-infected patients lack access to adequate and ongoing treatment. The Company's clinical stage candidate FIT-06 aims to address the problems of standard therapies including restricted access to medication, low patient retention in therapy, social stigma and potentially serious side effects. The FIT-06 vaccine has the potential to provide a safer and more cost-effective alternative to current HIV therapies.

"Having patent protection for FIT-06 is of utmost importance since it provides FIT exclusive rights for commercializing the vaccine candidate. The upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial with the European HIV Alliance (EHVA) will be the next step on this journey and we look very much forward to its start," commented Santeri Kiviluoto, Chief Scientific Officer of FIT Biotech Oy.

FIT BIOTECH OY

Further information: James Kuo CEO FIT Biotech Oy Tel: +1 858 220 5703 E-mail: james.kuo@fitbiotech.com

Certified Advisor: Aalto Capital Partners Oy, tel. +358 40 587 7000

About FIT Biotech

FIT Biotech Oy is a biotechnology company established in 1995. The company develops and licenses its patented GTU® (Gene Transport Unit) vector technology for new-generation medical treatments. GTU® is a gene transport technology that meets an important medical challenge in the usability of gene therapy and DNA vaccines.

FIT Biotech applies GTU® technology in its drug development programmes. Application areas include cancer (gene therapy) and infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, as well as animal vaccines.

FIT Biotech shares are listed on the First North Finland marketplace maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki Oy.