On February 28, 2017 Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc. ("Checkpoint") (OTCQX: CKPT), a Fortress Biotech (NASDAQ: FBIO) company, reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a composition of matter patent for CK-101 (also known as RX518), Checkpoint’s oral, third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor product candidate under development for the treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Press release, Fortress Biotech, FEB 27, 2017, View Source [SID1234517885]).

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U.S. Patent No. 9,550,770 specifically covers the compound, CK-101, and a broad range of related compounds, salts, pharmaceutical compositions and various dosage forms of such pharmaceutical compositions. Pursuant to Checkpoint’s existing license agreement with NeuPharma, Inc., the U.S. patent protects CK-101 through at least August 2034, exclusive of any additional patent-term extensions that might become available.

"We are excited to announce the issuance of the first U.S. patent for CK-101, which affords broad, foundational composition of matter protection for our compound," commented James F. Oliviero, President and CEO of Checkpoint. "We plan to continue to expand and fortify our intellectual property estate for CK-101 in the U.S. and abroad as we advance CK-101 through clinical development."

CK-101 is currently being studied in the Phase 1 dose-escalation portion of a Phase 1/2 clinical study. The Phase 1 portion of the study is evaluating the safety and tolerability of ascending doses of CK‐101 in patients with advanced solid tumors to determine the maximum tolerated dose and/or recommended Phase 2 dose. The Phase 2 portion of the study is expected to commence in the second half of 2017 and will evaluate the safety and efficacy of CK-101 in patients with EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC.

Checkpoint’s common stock currently trades on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker symbol "CKPT."