Blacksmith Medicines Inc, a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing therapeutics targeting metalloenzymes, announced on Monday that the European Patent Office has issued a Notice of Intention to Grant for European Application No. 19862323.3, titled 'Antibacterial Compounds', an application covering the composition of matter and methods of use for FG-960, the active form of FG-2101.

FG-960 is a non-hydroxamate small-molecule antibiotic designed to selectively inhibit LpxC, a zinc-dependent metalloenzyme found exclusively in Gram-negative bacteria.

Blacksmith has received similar patents in the United States, China, and Japan, and is pursuing additional protection in other major global markets.

The FG-960/FG-2101 programme is currently supported under a contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).