Benzinga | Jul 22, 2020 08:01AM EDT

Timber Pharmaceuticals Announces European Patent Office Intends To Grant Patent For BPX-01 And BPX-04

Stable topical composition has potential to reduce side effects of orally delivered compositions in treatment of acne and rosacea

WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ, July 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Timber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Timber" or the "Company") (NYSE:TMBR), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for orphan dermatologic diseases, today announced that it has received notice from the European Patent Office (EPO) that it intends to grant a patent for the company's topical composition of pharmaceutical tetracycline (including minocycline) for dermatological use (European Patent Application No. 16714168.8).

In May 2020, Timber announced the closing of a merger with BioPharmX Corporation and its intention to evaluate BioPharmX's Phase 3 ready proprietary topical programs in the treatment of inflammatory lesions of acne vulgaris and papulopustular rosacea for a strategic partnership, co-development or other non-dilutive value creation strategy. The new EPO patent will further protect these assets.

"Orally delivered compositions of tetracycline antibiotics have been used for decades for the treatment of dermatologic conditions including acne, but systemic delivery is accompanied by adverse side effects," said John Koconis, chief executive officer of Timber. "Designing a stable topical composition with the potential to reduce those side effects has been an important challenge that required innovative approaches. We are pleased to add this EPO patent to our extensive dermatology portfolio."

BioPharmX previously received patent protection for the topical composition of pharmaceutical tetracycline for dermatological use in the United States and South Africa. Certain claims related to this application have also recently been accepted in Australia.