iNtRON Bio announced the filing of two patent applications for its IMPA™ gene editing technology that utilizes CRISPR-Cas9 and recombination-based methods to modify Pasteurella bacteriophages. This development follows the company's recent U.S. patent application related to colorectal cancer using the same phage engineering platform.
Revolutionary Gene Editing Platform
The newly developed IMPA™ gene editing technology targets the capsid of bacteriophages infecting Pasteurella bacteria to produce modular phages capable of carrying multiple payloads. The technology represents a fundamental patent for various genetic engineering techniques, including gene editing, foreign protein labeling, and the introduction of novel capsids.
The company's approach is powered by AI-driven analysis and multi-omics data through its integrated database (IDB), which includes the 'ip-Virtual BR Bank' containing over 11,000 bacteriophage records and more than 600 whole genome sequences (WGS) of bacteriophages isolated and secured by the company.
Technical Innovation and Global First
The patent applications present a method to precisely manipulate genes of bacteriophages infecting Pasteurella strains using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The technology involves developing and applying a plasmid capable of specific genetic manipulation at target sites while maintaining original infectivity, thereby maximizing editing efficiency.
Additionally, a dedicated plasmid capable of implementing a recombination system was developed, enabling genetic modifications to be performed in shorter timeframes. The achievement of gene editing Pasteurella bacteriophages using these two improvement techniques marks the first case ever reported worldwide.
Therapeutic Applications and Market Potential
Jisu Son, Head of the BD Division, emphasized the technology's broad therapeutic potential: "With the securing of the IMPA™ gene editing technology through this patent filing, we can now go beyond simply using bacteriophages as antibiotic alternatives for bacterial control, and expand the scope of application to a platform technology for developing targeted therapeutics or vaccines that label peptides or proteins selectively acting on specific diseases."
The technology has applications across the pharmaceutical industry, with plans to apply it to gene editing of bacteriophages infecting bacteria other than Pasteurella to discover and select more effective drug candidates.
Strategic Development and Future Plans
CEO YOON Kyung Won outlined the company's strategic approach: "Following our recent U.S. patent application, these additional two patent filings not only strengthen our existing IMPA™ platform technology but also expand its technical differentiation and application areas. On the premise of filing for PCT, we have submitted the two applications in Korea first to proceed rapidly to patent registration."
The company plans to focus on developing the IMPA™ phage engineering technology to enhance the completeness of the platform, which will serve as the foundation for developing various new drug candidates, including ADC drugs, anticancer agents, and vaccines.
