Australia's Cartherics, a biotechnology company developing immune cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, has been granted Chinese patent ZL 201680069543.6, entitled “Genetically modified cells and uses thereof”. This patent is part of the family represented by the international patent filing WO2017088012.

The patent provides a proprietary position for multiple development candidates in Cartherics’ pipeline. Specifically, it covers Cartherics’ chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72), along with T cells bearing the TAG-72 CAR. It provides protection for both autologous (patient-derived) and allogeneic (off-the-shelf) immune cell products that carry the TAG-72 CAR.

TAG-72 a well-validated target, highly expressed on a range of adenocarcinomas including ovarian and gastric cancers. Issuance of the patent is an important milestone in underpinning the development of new treatments for these cancers. 

Cartherics’ initial target indication is relapsed or refractory ovarian cancer, where greater than 90 percent of tumors are TAG-72 positive. Targeting these tumors with novel cellular immunotherapies will help address the unmet need for new treatment options for ovarian cancer patients.