Chimeric Therapeutics issued patent in Japan for CAR technology
Clinical-stage cell therapy developer Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX: CHM) has been issued a patent in Japan for certain applications of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology using chlorotoxin (CLTX).
The patent covers the company’s clinical-stage CAR T asset CHM 1101 (CLTX CAR T) and preclinical stage asset CHM 1301 (CLTX CAR NK).
CHM 1101 is a novel therapy developed for the treatment of patients with solid tumours and is currently being studied in a Phase 1B clinical trial in recurrent or progressive glioblastoma brain cancer.
Initial positive data from a Phase 1A trial has been presented on patients treated in the first two dose levels of the trial.
Initial patent protection
Initial patent protection for CLTX CAR technology in Japan was granted by the Japan Patent Office last year and the latest issue expands the scope of protection to cover a broader range of CLTX CAR construct designs.
Chimeric managing director Jennifer Chow said the patent builds on work already achieved with CAR therapies.
“We are delighted to see our patent protection for CLTX CAR broadened in Japan, where CAR T cell therapies for blood cancers have already been commercialised,” she said.
“The granting of this patent will further expand the robust intellectual property portfolio underpinning our CLTX CAR pipeline assets.”
Third largest market
Industry research shows Japan to be the third largest pharmaceutical market in the world and the second ranked country by protected pharmaceutical brand spend.
Innovative specialty products in the country are reporting double-digit compound growth, and the availability and use of biologics continues to expand.
Chimeric holds the exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialise CAR and related patent applications filed in other global territories.
Clinical trial support
Last month, Chimeric secured $10 million from US firm Lind Global II to support its clinical trial pipeline and therapy portfolio.
This includes CLTX CAR-T to treat glioblastoma; CDH17 CAR-T for neuroendocrine tumours, colorectal cancer and gastric cancers; and the CORE NK platform (including CHM 1301) for patients with advanced colorectal and blood cancers.
The funds will be received through a 24-month staged private placement.
Ms Chow said the support “demonstrates confidence” in cell therapy technologies and will further strengthen its ability to develop and progress the clinical trial pipeline.