Japanese patent for Imugene's HER-Vaxx immunotherapy

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Clinical stage immuno-oncology company Imugene (ASX:IMU) has announced it has received a notice of grant from the Japanese Patent Office for its application to protect its HER-Vaxx immunotherapy.

The HER-Vaxx immunotherapy is currently in development for HER2 positive gastric cancer.

The company said the new patent protects the method of composition and method of use of HER-Vaxx immunotherapy to 2036.

It said approximately 75 per cent of all gastric cancer diagnoses are in Asia. Japan has the third-highest incidence rate of gastric cancer worldwide, of which approximately one in five cases are considered HER2 positive.

According to Imugene managing director and CEO Leslie Chong, “Attaining the key Japanese patent is an important milestone. This adds extra value to Imugene’s portfolio of B-cell immunotherapies and this will protect them in one of the world’s largest HER2 positive gastric cancer markets until 2036.”

Imugene’s HER-Vaxx is a B-cell activating immunotherapy designed to treat tumours that over-express the HER-2/neu receptor, such as gastric, breast, ovarian, lung and pancreatic cancers. It has been shown in pre-clinical studies, in Phase I and now Phase 2 studies, to stimulate a potent polyclonal antibody response to HER-2/neu.