Prima BioMed (ASX: PRR; NASDAQ: PBMD) has filed a provisional patent application over the use of IMP321 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
IMP321is a LAG-3Ig fusion protein that works by binding to MHC class II molecules on APCs such as dendritic cells to activate them. The APCs are important for showing cancer antigens to T cells and activating them to destroy cancer cells. IMP321 is a first-in-class APC activator.
The company said that filing for patent protection "not only bodes well for future clinical work on IMP321; it also offers commercial upside given the widespread expectation that new drugs working through various immune checkpoints will become blockbusters."
"In addition, this work has allowed Prima to further build on the patent estate protecting IMP321, with patent exclusivity for the product now potentially running to 2035 or beyond if granted and extended," it said.
According to Professor Frédéric Triebel, CSO & CMO of Prima BioMed, "In the exciting era of cancer therapy that we have moved into thanks to the rise of immuno-oncology, I have long argued that LAG-3 will be a key checkpoint molecule in this revolution.
"Our recent work combining our soluble LAG-3 product as a dendritic cell activator with T cell targeted checkpoint inhibitors has suggested that our work can play a key role in this second revolution leading to higher response rates through combined immunotherapies, with great benefits to patients and our shareholders."