On March 8, 2021 Immodulon, the immuno-oncology company, reported that it has received Notices of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Japanese Patent Office; and a Notice of Intention to Grant from the European Patent Office for Immodulon’s patent applications No’s. 16/820,058 (US), 16/820,132 (US), 2016-541474 (Japan) and EP3319635 (Europe) (Press release, Immodulon Therapeutics, MAR 8, 2021, View Source [SID1234576188]). These patent applicationsrelate to combining IMM-101, the Company’s investigational treatment comprising heat-killed Mycobacterium obuense, with various immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) for the treatment of various tumour types.
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The allowed claims in the two US patent applications relate to Immodulon’s first CPI combination patent family, and cover methods of treating sarcoma with IMM-101 in combination with anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1 or anti-CTLA4 antibodies, in addition to methods of treating colorectal cancer with IMM-101 in combination with anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L1 or anti-CTLA4 antibodies. Upon grant, both patents are expected to expire in 2034. This allowance followed earlier allowances for two other US patent applications with similar claims related to pancreatic cancer and melanoma. The company intends to conduct further clinical studies related to the allowed claim scope and advance IMM-101 into other such cancers with high unmet need.
In addition, Immodulon also received a Notice of Allowance in Japan for a patent application related to its first CPI combination patent family. The allowed claims cover IMM-101 in combination with anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies for the treatment of any cancer. Upon grant, this Japanese patent is expected to expire in 2034.
Furthermore, Immodulon received a Notice of Intention to Grant from the European Patent Office for a patent application related to its second CPI combination patent family. The allowed claims cover IMM-101 in combination with pembrolizumab, atezolizumab or tremelimumab for the treatment of any cancer. Upon grant, this European patent is expected to expire in 2036.
Dr Jaap Kampinga, Chief Executive Officer of Immodulon, commented:
"We are pleased to have received these Notices of Allowance and Intention to Grant which cover methods of treating cancers with IMM-101 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immodulon has 11 patent families with 30 patents granted globally and it is pursuing multiple avenues for securing and enhancing additional intellectual property protection for IMM-101. These new patents support ongoing discussions with third parties as well as clinical studies in several stages of preparation. These include the treatment of various stages of pancreatic cancer, the key focus of the company; soft tissue sarcoma, for which we have an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application; and colorectal cancer."