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- Imugene (IMU) has received a Notice of Grant from the United States Patent and Trademark Office to protect its HER-Vaxx cancer immunotherapy
- HER-Vaxx is a B-cell immunotherapy designed to treat tumours that over-express the HER-2/neu receptor such as gastric, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers
- According to the company’s CEO, Leslie Chong, this patent will protect the product until 2036
- Imugene’s share price is up 10.3 per cent in mid-morning trade with shares trading for 3.8 cents apiece
Imugene (IMU) has received a Notice of Grant from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for patent 15/316868.
This patent protects Imugene’s HER-Vaxx cancer immunotherapy which is currently in phase II development for Her-2+ gastric cancer.
The patent titled “A vaccine composition and uses thereof” protects the method of composition and method of use of Imugene’s HER-Vaxx for the generation of a therapeutic antibody response against HER-2/neu.
“Attaining the key U.S. patent is an important milestone. This adds extra value to HER-Vaxx as this will protect it in the world’s largest pharmaceutical market until 2036,” Managing Director and CEO Leslie Chong said.
HER-Vaxx is a B-cell immunotherapy designed to treat tumours that over-express the HER-2/neu receptor such as gastric, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.
The immuno-therapy is constructed from several B-cell epitopes derived from the extracellular domain of HER-2/neu.
It has been shown in pre-clinical studies and in phase I studies to stimulate a potent polyclonal antibody response to HER-2/neu, a well-known and validated cancer target.
HER-Vaxx has successfully completed a phase Ib study in gastric cancer and the current stage of development is a phase II study in gastric cancer.
HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a gene that can play a role in the development of breast cancer.
In roughly 1 out of every 5 breast cancers, HER2 is in excess.
Cancers with excess HER2 tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancers. They are also less likely to react to hormone therapy.
However, people with HER2 positive breast cancer can still benefit from hormone therapy.
Imugene’s share price is up 10.3 per cent in mid-morning trade with shares trading for 3.8 cents apiece at 11:23 am AEDT.
