Stockholm, Sweden and Lugano, Switzerland, March 11, 2026 – AnaCardio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel contractile agents to treat patients with heart failure and Helsinn Healthcare SA (“Helsinn”), a global pharmaceutical group focused on supporting patients with cancer and chronic diseases, today announced that U.S. Patent No. 12,569,476 has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The patent covers the use of AC01 for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The patent is co-owned by AnaCardio AB and Helsinn Healthcare SA and provides protection in the United States until June 2, 2042, plus potential patent term extensions.
Patrik Strömberg, AnaCardio CEO, commented: “This newly issued U.S. patent significantly strengthens the intellectual property protection for AC01 and reinforces the long-term exclusivity we have built around our lead candidate in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. Together with our broader patent portfolio, it creates a strong and layered IP position supporting AC01 well into the 2040s. We believe AC01 has the potential to become a truly transformative therapy for patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, addressing one of the most significant unmet medical needs in cardiovascular medicine” .
Richardo Braglia, Helsinn Group CEO, commented: “We are very pleased with the issuance of this U.S. patent, which significantly strengthens the long-term potential of the AC01 program. This milestone further reinforces the value of our partnership with AnaCardio and underlines our commitment to supporting innovative therapies that address major unmet needs in cardiovascular disease.”
About AnaCardio
AnaCardio AB is a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel drugs to treat heart failure. AnaCardio was founded based on ground-breaking research from Karolinska Institutet showing improved contractility of the heart muscle through a unique and differentiated mechanism. The Company’s lead program AC01, a first-in-class calcium sensitizing inotrope, is an oral ghrelin mimetic small-molecule, which was in-licensed from Helsinn and is now being developed as a contractile agent in heart failure patients. AnaCardio recently completed a succesful Phase 1b/2a trial with AC01 that generated proof-of-concept in patients with HFrEF, thus supporting further development of this promising oral, first-in-class drug candidate in patients with advanced heart failure.
Find more information about AnaCardio at www.anacardio.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Helsinn
Helsinn is a global pharmaceutical company that builds, manufactures, launches, and commercializes products to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and chronic diseases, with a focus on supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology. Headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, Helsinn has direct commercial operations in the U.S., manufacturing operations in Ireland, offices in China, and a network of trusted partners enabling a commercial presence in 90 countries.
Established in 1976, Helsinn is a third-generation family-owned company with broad pharmaceutical and technical expertise. For half a century, Helsinn has been operating with integrity, passion, and quality. The company continuously fosters innovation for its patients and embraces sustainable growth as a core element of its strategic vision.
To learn more about Helsinn, please visit www.helsinn.com or follow us on on LinkedIn and X.
