Imugene Ltd (ASX:IMU, OTC:IUGNF) has received a notice of grant from the Japanese Patent Office for Patent Application number 2019-507161 which protects its oncolytic virotherapy CF33, including VAXINIA (CF33-hNIS) and CHECKVacc (CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1).
The Japanese patent grants exposure to a major oncology market for Imugene’s Oncolytic virotherapy CF33 treatments, representing a US$9.4 billion market in 2018 and expected to reach US$14.1 billion by 2021 at a compounding annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%.
The patent titled 'Chimeric poxvirus composition and uses thereof' protects the method of composition and method of use of Imugene’s licensed oncolytic virotherapy to 2037.
“Crucial step forward”
Imugene CEO and managing director Leslie Chong said: “Imugene receiving this patent grant for the CF33 family of oncolytic viruses from the Japanese patent office is a crucial step forward and is the first of many expected patent grants from multiple countries.
“The start of our VAXINIA and CHECKVacc OV studies are a significant milestone for clinicians treating patients faced with the challenge of solid tumour cancers.”
CF33 is a chimeric vaccinia poxvirus from the lab of inventor Professor Yuman Fong, the Sangiacomo Family Chair in Surgical Oncology at City of Hope, and a noted expert in the oncolytic virus field.
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are designed to both selectively kill tumour cells and activate the immune system against cancer cells, with the potential to improve clinical response and survival.
About Imugene
Imugene is a clinical stage immuno-oncology company developing a range of novel immunotherapies that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to treat and eradicate tumours.
The company’s platform technologies seek to harness the body’s immune system against tumours, potentially achieving a similar or greater effect than synthetically manufactured monoclonal antibody and other immunotherapies.
Imugene’s product pipeline includes multiple immunotherapy B-cell vaccine candidates and an oncolytic virotherapy (CF33) aimed at treating a variety of cancers in combination with standard of care drugs and emerging immunotherapies such as CAR T’s for solid tumours.
The company is supported by a leading team of international cancer experts with extensive experience in developing new cancer therapies.