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Highlights
- Imugene receives key US patent for innovative cancer therapy.
- CF33-CD19 aims to expand CAR T cell treatment to solid tumours.
- Supports Imugene’s strategy in global immuno-oncology.
Imugene (ASX:IMU), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company and part of the ASX200 cohort, has announced a significant development with the grant of a core US patent for its onCARlytics platform. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Allowance for the patent application covering CF33-CD19, a unique oncolytic virotherapy approach. The protection will extend through to August 10, 2038, marking a vital milestone in the company’s global intellectual property (IP) strategy.
Expanding Therapeutic Horizons in Oncology
The granted patent, titled Oncolytic Virus Expressing a CAR T Cell Target and Uses Thereof, safeguards the composition and method of use for CF33-CD19. This engineered oncolytic virus is designed to infect and replicate within solid tumour cells, enabling the expression of CD19 markers on their surfaces. This critical mechanism allows CD19-targeting CAR T therapies—traditionally used in hematologic cancers—to recognize and act against solid tumours, which historically have been resistant to such treatment modalities.
The platform was originally developed by City of Hope and is exclusively licensed to Imugene. This innovation is seen as a major step toward overcoming a key challenge in the cancer treatment landscape—enhancing CAR T cell therapy efficacy in solid tumours.
Ongoing Clinical Advancements
The clinical validation of the onCARlytics program is being undertaken through the OASIS dose-escalation trial, which is active across multiple sites in the United States. Approximately 40 patients are expected to be enrolled, with the goal of demonstrating clinical proof-of-concept for the synergistic use of oncolytic virotherapy with adoptive T cell therapies.
This trial sits at the core of Imugene’s broader immuno-oncology development roadmap, aligning with its mission to pioneer novel cancer immunotherapies that could transform the future of care.
Strategic Outlook and Pipeline Depth
Alongside the onCARlytics platform, Imugene continues to evolve a robust portfolio, which includes the CD19-directed CAR T candidate azer-cel (azercabtagene zapreleucel), B-cell activating cancer vaccines, and additional CF33-derived virotherapy constructs.
With a team comprising global oncology experts and a strong financial position, Imugene is well-positioned to achieve key clinical and commercial inflection points. Its ambition to introduce foundational therapies in global oncology is reinforced through strategic IP wins such as this, especially within the world’s largest healthcare market.
As a member of the ASX200, Imugene continues to be one of the prominent players drawing attention within the Australian biotechnology sector, with developments that could potentially reshape cancer treatment modalities globally.
