Insert Therapeutics Inc., of Pasadena, Calif., a majority owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corp., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,270,808, titled "Cyclodextrin-based polymers for therapeutic delivery." It covers the company's lead oncology product, IT-101, a conjugate of the Cyclosert drug delivery molecule.

Javelin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,273,889, titled "NMDA Receptor Antagonist Formulation with Reduced Neurotoxicity." It extends protection covering the company's intranasal ketamine drug candidates into 2023.

MitoPharm Corp., of Seattle, received a notice of allowance for a patent based on newly formulated compound Schisandrin B, which has been shown to enhance mitochondrial glutathione antioxidant status, a crucial factor in maintaining mitochondrial function and cell survival. It was developed at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

MorphoSys AG, of Martinsried, Germany, was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,264,963, which stems from its base HuCAL (Human Combinatorial Antibody Library) family. The patent extends protection to the core technology and captures HuCAL's modular design at the DNA level.

Novelos Therapeutics Inc., of Newton, Mass., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,169,412, extending the composition and method of use claims relating to NOV-002, the company's lead compound. NOV-002 is in a pivotal Phase III study in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,264,798, titled "Sensitization of Chemotherapeutic Agent Resistant Neoplastic Cells with a Virus." The claims describe a method of using reovirus to prevent Ras-activated cancers from development drug resistance to chemotherapy.

Optimata Ltd., of Ramat Gan, Israel, was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,266,483, which covers a system and method that models granulopoiesis and optimizes drug therapies to reduce or prevent neutropenia. The patent covers methods applied to both individual and patient populations.

Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Waltham, Mass., received a notice of allowance for a patent relating to methods of use of Ramoplanin for Clostridium difficile-associated disease. Ramoplanin is a glycolipodepsipeptide antibiotic set for Phase III development in CDAD.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., received a patent for use of its drug candidate RX-10100 IR, or Zoraxel, to treat sexual dysfunction. The patent covers a method for improving sexual function by activating serotonin or dopamine neurotransmission, or a combination of both.

Urigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 7,267,670, relating to urethral suppositories. The patent broadens protection for the company's urethral suppository program to include a reinforced female urethral suppository program.