• Colombian biotechnology company VaxThera has been granted a patent for its COVID-19 vaccine by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• The patent strengthens the company's positioning, recognition, and expertise as a key contributor to Colombia's health sovereignty and preparedness.

Medellín, julio de 2024. VaxThera, a Colombian biotechnology company focused on developing vaccines and biologics that contribute to the health sovereignty of Colombia and the region, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent for its coronavirus vaccine. The patent covers a mosaic protein designed to provide broad protection against different coronaviruses and their various variants.

The patent grant recognizes the rigor, innovation, effort, and investment made by the company. Through a highly demanding technical process lasting more than three years, VaxThera demonstrated that its invention is novel, inventive, and industrially applicable. Patents are strategic assets of great importance for technology companies, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, as they are one of the most effective mechanisms for protecting innovation and encouraging research and development activities.

Obtaining this patent further strengthens VaxThera's position and expertise as a biotechnology company committed to transforming science, research, and development into solutions that improve quality of life for Colombians and Latin Americans while helping provide the region with the health independence needed to address future disease threats.

It is worth noting that vaccines have not been manufactured in Colombia since 1998. Although the National Immunization Program (PAI) includes 21 vaccines that protect against 26 diseases, none are currently produced locally. Domestic production contributes to the recovery of the national pharmaceutical industry by enabling equitable, effective, and efficient distribution across the country and improving access to disease prevention products that address public health needs. This also benefits the economy through job creation, revenue generated from biologics exports, and lower distribution costs.

"We are extremely proud of the hard work behind this patent. This achievement is a major milestone for VaxThera and demonstrates Colombia's ability to develop new medicines against emerging threats and the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. In addition, this patent application was filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing us to seek protection for this invention simultaneously in other territories such as Colombia, Brazil, India, South Africa, and Europe.", said Jorge E. Osorio, CEO of VaxThera.

In a global environment of growing demand for innovative medical solutions, intellectual property has become a fundamental pillar for the advancement and competitiveness of Colombia's vaccine industry. Patent protection encourages investment in research and development, ensuring that companies can leverage their inventions for the benefit of society. It also fosters collaboration among institutions, facilitates access to advanced technologies, and strengthens the country's ability to respond to public health challenges.

To achieve this milestone, VaxThera received support, guidance, and counsel from Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C., a U.S.-based intellectual property law firm specializing in biotechnology."The only asset a research-based biotechnology startup such as VaxThera possesses at the beginning of its corporate life is its intellectual property. This patent protects that intellectual property in the U.S. market and globally recognizes the contribution made by the company's pioneering scientists."Dr. Jorge Goldstein, founder of the firm and widely recognized as one of the pioneers of biotechnology patent law in the United States.

As a Colombian company with Seguros SURA as its founding partner, VaxThera is leveraging its own capabilities, collaborative networks, cutting-edge technology, and national and international expertise to strengthen knowledge transfer and achieve vaccine self-sufficiency, ensuring preparedness for future pandemics. The granted patent provides the company with exclusivity over the invention for 20 years and enables it to continue contributing to the reindustrialization of the healthcare sector through the local production of vaccines and biologics.

About VaxThera

VaxThera is a science-driven Colombian company dedicated to the research and development of biologics for the world. The company seeks to foster health independence through research, development, and innovation in biotechnology and healthcare. VaxThera was founded through the collaboration of SURA and globally recognized researchers in biotechnology and human health. The company is led by a team with more than 30 years of experience in biologics research and development.

Press contact:

Manuela Sánchez Salazar 
msanchezs@sura.com.co