CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA –August 2, 2010 – Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC, a clinical-stage drug-development company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted it patent no. 7,759,506 entitled “Bipolar Trans Carotenoid Salts and Their Uses.” This patent includes drug formulation and use claims relating to Diffusion’s entire family of first-in-class new chemical entities. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals is commercializing this family of first-in-class drug candidates to treat serious or life-threatening medical conditions characterized by hypoxia or oxygen deprivation at the cellular level.

“The issuance of this new patent extends protection beyond our lead drug candidate trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) and is an important addition to our current intellectual property portfolio,” said David G. Kalergis, Diffusion’s CEO.

Currently the Company has nine issued patents and more than 85 pending patent applications filed in all major international markets.

About Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC is a clinical-stage drug-development company commercializing a family of first-in-class drug candidates to treat serious or life-threatening medical conditions characterized by oxygen deprivation at the cellular level (hypoxia). These proprietary small molecules use a novel method of action to enhance oxygen diffusion to hypoxic tissue. Potential clinical applications include critical care uses such as trauma, hemorrhage, stroke, and heart attack, the enhanced treatment of solid cancerous tumors, and chronic conditions such as peripheral artery disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disorders. A Phase I study of Diffusion’s lead molecule, trans sodium crocetinate (TSC), in healthy subjects was successfully completed in 2007. The company recently completed a successful Phase I/II dose-range-finding, safety and efficacy study of TSC in peripheral artery disease patients suffering from intermittent claudication. This study is designated NCT00725881 on the clinicaltrials.gov website. Diffusion Pharmaceuticals LLC, which is privately held, is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. For more information, visit www.diffusionpharma.com.

Tags: first-in-class drugs, hypoxia, TSC, US patent issued