Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) Granted Another RNA Interference Patent In Europe Providing Further Support For The Hepatitis C Program

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Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) Granted Another RNA Interference Patent In Europe

Providing Further Support For The Hepatitis C Program

Melbourne, Dec 13, 2010 (ABN Newswire) - Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) (PINK:BNIKF)

is pleased to announce that the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued a

Communication of Intent to Grant on application 2005 727 680 " Multiple promoter

expression cassettes for simultaneous delivery of RNAi agents " . The claims cover

the use of an RNA interference construct (with multiple promoters) to inhibit

the level of Hepatitis C virus in cells, tissues and organs. Additional related

applications remain pending to extend the scope of protection, including

constructs having single promoters.

Benitec has licensed the rights to use this patent for Hepatitis C exclusively

to Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., who are working with Pfizer to further develop and

commercialise Tacere's Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) compounds.

Tacere Therapeutics' Chief Executive Officer Sara Hall Renison stated " We are

very pleased with the news from the EPO. Benitec has been a strong ally in

developing this and other patent families, and Tacere and Pfizer look forward to

continuing clinical development of this first-in-class drug " .

Benitec's Chief Executive Officer Dr French said, " The intention of the

EPO to grant this patent is an important addition to our already broad and

robust patent portfolio in RNAi, and complements the patents already granted for

this work in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. "

About Benitec Limited

Benitec Limited (ASX:BLT) (PINK:BNIKF) is an Australian biotechnology company

focused on licensing its extensive intellectual property portfolio and

developing therapeutics to treat serious diseases using its proprietary ddRNAi

technology. For additional information, please visit www.benitec.com.

Contact

French

Chief Executive Officer

Benitec Limited

Tel: +61-412-457-595

http://www.benitec.com

Link: http://www.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/64794-ASX-BLT-617094.pdf