19 June 2013 - Medicago, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel vaccines and therapeutic proteins to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide, has received a patent protecting exclusive rights to produce influenza virus-like particles in plants from the European Patent Office, it was reported yesterday.

The patent is valid until July 2028. It is titled 'Influenza virus-like particles comprising hemagglutinin produced within a plant'. The company originally filed it on 11 July 2008.

Medicago business development vice president, Frederic Ors, stated that the firm expands the development of influenza vaccine programmes and the coverage offered by the patent strengthens its position.