Bionomics to file international patent on genes

Gene discovery group Bionomics (ASX:BNO) plans to lodge an international patent covering almost 150 gene variants related to diseases including Alzheimer's, depression, epilepsy and Parkinson's.

The Adelaide company said the 148 variants, 98 of which were new, were in validated drug targets for central nervous system disorders.

Chief executive officer and managing director Dr Deborah Rathjen said the application was the culmination of more than two years of intensive research by scientists at Bionomics, Adelaide's Women and Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne.

"We are delighted with these discoveries," Rathjen said.

"Bringing them to the international patent application stage is very important and further emphasises Bionomics' position as a world leader in epilepsy research".

The latest findings expand Bionomics' patent portfolio to about 330 genes and genetic variations associated with its epilepsy, breast cancer and angiogenesis research.

Rathjen said the new patent filing and other Bionomics' patents focused particularly on gene variations which may be used to diagnose and treat epilepsy and other central nervous system disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, pain and depression.

She said central nervous system disorders represented the largest therapeutic segment of the drug market, last year totaling $US52 billion ($92.4 billion) and forecast to grow to more than $US75 billion within five years.

Epilepsy treatments worldwide account for $US5 billion ($8.9 billion) annually.

"One of the reasons Bionomics has targeted epilepsy is that up to 30 per cent of patients do not respond to existing drugs," Rathjen said.

"Epilepsy is a market with a high level of unmet medical need and we are very pleased to have progressed our research to a point which may help us find more effective treatments for this serious condition."

She said the company was currently pursuing a number of commercialisation opportunities relating to these discoveries.

At the time of writing, Bionomics shares were unchanged at 70 cents.