Clinical-stage immuno-oncology company Imugene (ASX:IMU) has announced the grant of a new patent for its PD1-Vaxx clinical drug candidate.
The Japanese Patent Office has granted the patent, which the company says protects its immunotherapeutic PD1-Vaxx, a first-in-class programmed death-1 (PD1) vaccine, currently in clinical development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The company said the patent will expire on 28 March 2038 and protects the composition of matter and method of treatment in cancer of Imugene’s PD1-Vaxx for the generation of a therapeutic antibody response against the PD1 checkpoint target.
Imugene’s PD1-Vaxx is a B-cell activating immunotherapy designed to treat tumours such as lung cancer by interfering with PD-1/PD-L1 binding and interaction and producing an anti-cancer effect.
Imugene’s managing director and CEO Leslie Chong said, “Attaining the key Japanese patent, on top of gaining protection in the USA this year, is a very important milestone. Recruitment in the Phase 1 PD1-Vaxx trial, as monotherapy or in combination with atezolizumab in adults with NonSmall Cell Lung Cancer, has increased markedly recently with strong interest from new clinical sites to participate in this innovative study”.
