Inventera Secures U.S. Patent for Core MRI Contrast Agent Technology

Inventera, a new drug development company specializing in MRI contrast agents, announced on April 21 that a decision has been made to grant a U.S. patent for its core technology related to nano-MRI contrast agents. The patent covers an innovative nanostructure that coats T1-MRI contrast materials on the surface of nanoparticles. This material patent achieves both high performance and safety. It is Inventera's proprietary original technology and serves as the foundation for its pipeline of iron (Fe)-based nano-MRI contrast agent new drugs currently under development.

Conventional iron-based contrast agents have been limited mostly to T2-MRI contrast (which appears as dark, negative contrast in imaging) due to technical constraints, resulting in restrictions on diagnostic accuracy and range of application. In contrast, T1-MRI contrast agents currently used in the market (which appear as bright, positive contrast in imaging) are based on gadolinium (Gd), a heavy metal. Concerns have been continuously raised about side effects and safety risks due to accumulation in the body.

Amid these limitations, Inventera's nano-MRI contrast agent under development utilizes biocompatible iron while delivering high-performance T1-MRI contrast effects, thereby achieving both safety and performance as an innovative technology.

Particularly noteworthy is that, for this U.S. patent, Inventera CEO Shin Taehyun, as the inventor, personally attended a face-to-face interview with a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office examiner alongside the company's in-house patent attorney. As a result of actively demonstrating the distinctiveness and excellence of the technology, the patent was granted with broad claims and without any reduction in scope.

With this registration, Inventera has now secured key intellectual property rights in all major contrast agent markets, including Korea, Japan, China, Europe, and now the United States. Furthermore, the company is solidifying its technological barriers by continuously filing additional patents as part of its evergreening strategy.

Shin Taehyun, CEO of Inventera, stated, "This U.S. patent registration is a significant milestone as Inventera takes on the global MRI contrast agent market with its proprietary core technology. We will accelerate the commercialization of our leading pipeline, 'NEMO-103' (a musculoskeletal-specialized MRI contrast agent), and expand into various follow-up products."

Meanwhile, Inventera is developing a first-in-class nano-MRI contrast agent new drug pipeline specialized for a variety of diseases that have been difficult to diagnose with conventional contrast agents. The company recently passed the technical evaluation for KOSDAQ technology-special listing, obtaining A and BBB ratings. Inventera is accelerating its efforts to enter the global market with the goal of listing on the KOSDAQ market.