Derma Sciences Announces Issuance of Two New U.S. Patents For DSC127

Derma Sciences Announces Issuance of Two New U.S. Patents For DSC127

Barry Wolfenson, 609-514-4744Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business DevelopmentKim Sutton Golodetz, 212-838-3777Bruce Voss, 310-691-7100@LHA_IR_PRMackenzie Mills, 212-838-3777

Derma Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, today announced the issuance of patents 8,207,233 and 8,207,234 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These patents provide additional intellectual property protection for the Company’s investigational drug DSC127 by describing the angiotensin peptide in a specific formulation and a method of using the same to treat diabetic foot ulcers.

The inventors are Drs. Kathleen Rodgers and Gere diZerega, both the original inventors of DSC127 and the patent portfolio surrounding the product. The two new patents were issued to the University of Southern California (USC) and have been added to Derma Sciences’ exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with USC. The new patents effectively extend the patent life of the drug through January 2032.

Commenting on the patent awards, Edward J. Quilty, president and chief executive officer of Derma Sciences, said, “DSC127 is an important component of our leadership strategy in advanced wound care and is a key element in our company’s growth plan. We are pleased that our development efforts on this drug for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers have resulted in additional intellectual property protection in the United States and potentially other parts of the world. These new patents will significantly extend the period of market exclusivity should our planned Phase 3 trials be successful and the drug be approved. We have been working diligently to expand Derma Sciences’ intellectual property position in wound healing and these new patents are important components in ensuring that our work and investments remain ours.”

Dr. Rodgers, Associate Professor at the USC School of Pharmacy, added, “I am pleased with the recognition by the patent office of the superior properties of the drug carrier in terms of biocompatibility and optimal drug delivery characteristics.”

DSC127 is an analog of a naturally occurring peptide, angiotensin, which has been shown to increase keratinocyte proliferation, increase extracellular matrix production and increase vascularization. Use of this peptide may help the body utilize its own stem cells more productively for wound healing.

Derma Sciences is a medical technology company focused on three segments of the wound care marketplace: pharmaceutical wound care products, advanced wound care dressings and traditional dressings. Derma Sciences has successfully completed the Phase 2 clinical trial in diabetic foot ulcer healing with DSC127, an investigational pharmaceutical drug under development for accelerated wound healing and scar reduction, and is preparing to begin Phase 3 clinical trials. Its MEDIHONEY® product is the leading brand of honey-based dressings for the management of wounds and burns. The product has been shown to be effective in a variety of indications, and was the focus of a positive large-scale, randomized controlled trial involving 108 subjects with leg ulcers. Other novel products introduced into the $14 billion global wound care market include XTRASORB® for better management of wound exudate, BIOGUARD® for infection prevention and TCC-EZ™, a gold-standard off-loading device for diabetic foot ulcers. For more information please visit

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