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Imugene granted patent to protect CF33 family of oncolytic virotherapies

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By Imelda Cotton - 
Imugene ASX IMU patent CF33 oncolytic virotherapy Vaxinia CheckVacc
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Clinical stage immuno-oncology company Imugene (ASX: IMU) has received a notice of allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a patent to protects its primary oncolytic virotherapy CF33, as well as the Vaxinia (CF33-hNIS) and CheckVacc (CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1) variants.

The patent titled Chimeric Poxvirus Composition and Uses Thereof protects the method of composition and method of use of the licensed candidate through to 2037.

Imugene chief executive officer Leslie Chong said it was a milestone achievement.

“This patent allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for the CF33 family of oncolytic viruses is a crucial step forward and a particularly important milestone [for us] with the US being the largest healthcare market in the world,” she said.

Chimeric vaccinia poxvirus

CF33 is a chimeric vaccinia poxvirus from the laboratory of inventor Professor Yuman Fong who is chair of the Sangiacomo Family Chair in Surgical Oncology at the world-renowned City of Hope Medical Centre in California.

He is also a noted expert in the oncolytic virus field.

The candidate has a track record of safe use in millions of humans as it was the active constituent in the worldwide vaccine which eradicated the deadly smallpox virus in the 1980s.

Oncolytic viruses are designed to selectively kill tumour cells and activate the immune system against cancer cells, with the potential to improve clinical response and survival.

Genomic sequences

A number of genomic sequences from multiple vaccinia virus strains have been combined to generate CF33 which Imugene calls a “new, safer and more potent virus”.

CF33 Vaxinia contains the human sodium-iodide symporter (hNIS) gene, which enables imaging to track the virus in vivo and mediate targeted radiotherapy.

CF33 CheckVacc also contains hNIS and is “armed” with anti PD-L1 genes which enable enhancement of anti-cancer immunotherapy.

Pre-clinical trials

Safety of all CF33 variants has been demonstrated in a number of pre-clinical trials and there is evidence for a local and systemic anti-tumor response.

“Through the use of CF33, we hope to improve the clinical benefits and quality of life for patients with cancers that are difficult to treat using current therapeutic approaches,” Ms Chong said.