First patented product to enter clinic within two years 

Melbourne, Australia, 04 March 2021.

Cartherics Pty Ltd announced today the grant of a European patent entitled “Genetically modified cells and uses thereof”.  The patent covers aspects of Cartherics’ chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology, particularly in relation to its CAR directed against the tumour-associated antigen, TAG-72.

This patent is part of a substantial patent family, with applications with a similar scope of protection filed in relevant jurisdictions such as the US, Japan, and Australia.

The granted patent provides Cartherics with protection of its TAG-72 CAR construct, which it has integrated into different T cell and NK cell product candidates.  These CAR-T and CAR-NK cells demonstrate compelling anti-tumour activity.

The company anticipates that the first of the candidates will be ready to enter into clinical trials within the next two years.

Commenting on the patent grant, Cartherics’ CEO, Prof Alan Trounson, stated, “The Cartherics team has worked diligently over the past several years to establish CAR-T and CAR-NK cell technologies and develop a suitable portfolio of intellectual property.  This European patent will be just the first of many to secure our position in the field.”

Bob Moses, Cartherics Chairman, added, “Cartherics has invested in both internal and external patent advisors to work with our scientists to generate and protect our increasingly valuable portfolio of innovations.  It’s great to see this investment bearing fruit.”

About Cartherics:

Cartherics Pty Ltd is a privately-held biotechnology company based in Melbourne, Australia.  It is developing cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, with a portfolio of CAR-T and CAR-NK cell products.  The Company’s allogeneic (“off-the-shelf”) cell platform is based upon induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from donated cord blood that can be differentiated into NK cells, T cells, and other cells of the immune system.  The iPSCs are genetically engineered to provide an enhanced function for the derived NK and other immune cells.