Abnova Integrates CARlike-IL12 Technology and Setup a IL-12 Patent Portfolio Strategy for Gene Modified T cell Therapy

Neihu, Taiwan (November 13, 2019)

Abnova announced today that it has integrated the CARlike-IL12 technology from MD Anderson Cancer Center and setup a complete IL-12 patent portfolio strategy for gene modified T cell therapy. The CARlike-IL12 platform is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) derivation of Abnova’s current attIL-12 lead candidate of autologous gene modified T cell therapy for solid tumors. CARlike-IL12 combines the CAR cell signaling components of CD3 and 4-1BB with attIL-12’s universal targeting peptide and membrane-anchored IL-12 cytokine. CARlike-IL12 represents the second generation IL-12 T cell immunotherapy and provides another powerful weapon against the difficult-to-treat solid tumors. Abnova’s attIL-12 and CARlike-IL-12 are the most effective methodology for delivery IL-12 cytokine to the tumor site without toxicity.

More importantly, Abnova aims to create comprehensive and overriding patent portfolio for the application of IL-12 cytokine to cell therapy. This CARlike-IL12 effectively prevents competitors from entering and applying the IL-12 cytokine in the cell therapy landscape. IL-12 is an extremely potent and multifunctional cytokine for increasing T cell activation and reversing the tumor immunosuppressive environment. There is no other cytokines available today which can replace IL-12 immune-boosting functions. Previous methodologies using IL-12 recombinant protein and secretory IL-12 cytokine have led to increased toxicity preventing effective therapy.

Abnova has successfully outsourced the GMP production of attIL-12 plasmid and viral vector to Aldevron and Lentigen. The overwhelming demand among the cell therapy companies has created a shortage of GMP facility for the preparation and production of the essential raw materials. Importantly, new Japan PMDA regulation enables the approval of novel cell therapeutic after successful completion of Phase II clinical trial in Japan. This efficiently increases the time to market for Abnova’s attIL-12 lead candidate. Moreover, without additional technologies, the current non-gene modified cell therapies such as CIK, NK, and gamma delta, are unlikely to make a major impact on cancer patients’ overall outcome. Their use have significantly decreased in US and European countries.