Australian cell therapy company Cartherics has announced that the Japanese Patent Office has issued a new patent for its off-the-shelf immune cell therapies.
The grant, the second in Japan from this patent family, extends protection for key features of induced pluripotent stem cells that have been gene-edited to incorporate the company's chimeric antigen receptor constructs for cancer and, potentially, endometriosis.
The Japanese patent is seen by the company as an important milestone in its global IP strategy. Japan is a major market for regenerative medicine and advanced cell therapies, offering significant commercial and partnering opportunities.
Cartherics is focused on high-impact women's diseases with lead programs in ovarian cancer and endometriosis, and its allogeneic cell platform is based on iPSCs derived from donated cord blood that can be differentiated into NK cells, T cells, and other immune cells, as described in the company background provided with the release.
Chief executive, Dr Ian Nisbet, said, “Cartherics has invested heavily in generating a cell therapy platform, particularly directed towards iPSC-derived CAR iNK natural killer cells, that is covered by an extensive portfolio of patents. Issuance of this Japanese patent is a significant addition to the Company's portfolio.”
The company's lead product, CTH 401, is a CAR iNK cell therapy targeting the tumour antigen TAG 72. Cartherics has initiated manufacturing of clinical trial material in upgraded clean rooms and plans to file an Investigational New Drug application in late 2026, with first human trials in ovarian cancer to follow.