HanAll Biopharma, a subsidiary of Daewoong Pharmaceuticals, said Tuesday that it has acquired a patent regarding its HL161, an anti-FcRn monoclonal antibody, in Taiwan.

HL161 targets severe autoimmune diseases without a cure including myasthenia gravis, chronic thrombocytopenia, optic neuritis, polyneuropathy, and lupus nephritis.

The main contents of the patent include the method of making anti-FcRn antibodies and HL161, a composition for treating autoimmune diseases that include HL161, a method for treating and diagnosing autoimmune diseases using HL161.

The company plans to use the patent to develop a treatment in Taiwan.

“To protect HL161's new drug technology, the company has now applied for a patent in 23 countries. Until now, we have received patents in three countries -- New Zealand, South Africa and Taiwan,” a company official said. “We plan to develop a product to commercialize in those areas.”

We have actively invested in R & D over the past 10 years and have been working on new drug development, he added.

During that time, the company has registered 124 domestic and overseas patents.