Clinical-stage biotechnology company Sareum Holdings plc (AIM: SAR) announced on Monday that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the China National Intellectual Property Administration for its patent application covering certain crystalline forms of SDC-1801, a dual TYK2/JAK1 kinase inhibitor.

This development strengthens the company's intellectual property position in China for SDC-1801, which is being developed to treat a range of autoimmune diseases.

The patent, application number 2021800259993, provides protection for various crystalline forms and their preparation methods. Sareum expects the patent to be granted by the end of 2024, pending completion of formalities. Applications in other territories, including the US, Europe and Japan, are currently under review.

SDC-1801, Sareum's lead candidate, is in Phase 1a/b clinical development with an initial focus on psoriasis. The company is also advancing SDC-1802, another TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor, for potential use in cancer immunotherapy.