Capricor acquires Medtronic patents to boost heart failure treatments

Biotechnology company Capricor Therapeutics has agreed to acquire patents from medical equipment maker Medtronic as part of plans to develop a programme to treat heart failure.

The deal, announced yesterday (October 14), covers patents related to the formulation and pump delivery of natriuretic peptides.

Capricor has previously announced that it planned to develop a clinical programme using Cenderitide, a natriuretic peptide, to treat post-acute heart failure.

The agreement will see Capricor acquire all of Medtronic’s rights to all its natriuretic peptide-related patents and applications.

Capricor will also acquire patent applications co-owned by each of the companies as part of their collaborative natriuretic peptide delivery programme.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Linda Marbán, chief executive of Capricor, said it was “extremely pleased” with the acquired patents.

“They could extend both the scope and the duration of patent protection for our natriuretic peptide platform,” she added.

California-based Capricor focuses on developing therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.