Nanoscope Therapeutics Secures New US Patent for Multi-Characteristic Opsin Platform
Nanoscope Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patnet (U.S. Patent No. 12,459,977) covering the company’s proprietary 'Multi-Characteristic Opsin' (MCO) technology platform.
The newly issued patent provides broad protection for methods of using the MCO platform to restore vision in patients who have lost photoreceptors due to retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), Stargardt disease, and geographic atrophy (GA). The patent recognizes MCO as a novel and innovative synthetic opsin designed for optogenetic modulation.
According the Nanoscope, in granting the patent, the USPTO cited the distinctive attributes of Nanoscope’s MCO platform, which differentiates it from other optogenetic approaches through its broad spectral sensitivity, fast kinetics, and ability to function under ambient light conditions. This capability eliminates the need for external light amplification devices, a key limitation of many existing optogenetic technologies.
The patent extends intellectual property protection in the United States through 2039, with the potential for additional patent term extension following FDA approval of therapeutic products based on the technology. Nanoscope has also secured corresponding patents in Australia and Japan, with applications pending in China and the European Union, reinforcing its global intellectual property position and supporting long-term commercial exclusivity in major markets.
“This patent represents more than an incremental IP milestone—it reinforces the strategic value of the MCO platform as a durable, first-in-class technology with broad clinical and commercial potential,” said Sulagna Bhattacharya, Chief Executive Officer of Nanoscope Therapeutics. “It strengthens the foundation of our pipeline by extending market exclusivity, enhancing competitive barriers, and supporting multiple future indications built on a single, scalable optogenetic platform.”