9 Meters Biopharma (NASDAQ:NMTR) said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has allowed patent application No. 16/781,304, which provides protection for the use of NM-136 to treat hyperphagia (excessive hunger), serious metabolic conditions such as obesity, and for reducing fatty tissue buildup in body organs.
"The allowance of this patent by the USPTO supports our efforts to further strengthen our pipeline, which includes our advanced co-lead products vurolenatide for short bowel syndrome and larazotide for celiac disease, and aligns with our strategy to develop innovative products that make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients suffering from rare or debilitating diseases," said President and CEO John Temperato.
Temperato added that NM-136 has potential to treat several metabolic disorders, and the company is progressing toward an investigational new drug application filing.