Pilatus Biosciences has secured critical patent protection for its innovative approach to cancer immunotherapy, receiving grants in Europe and Australia for methods targeting CD36 to modulate regulatory T cells and inhibit tumor growth. The Swiss biopharmaceutical company announced the milestone on October 14, 2025, marking a significant step forward in the emerging field of metabolic checkpoint immunotherapy.
Novel Approach to Immune Regulation
The granted patent, entitled "Methods for Modulating Regulatory T Cells and Inhibiting Tumor Growth," provides broad protection for Pilatus' pioneering work in regulatory T cell (Treg) modulation through metabolic reprogramming. The company holds an exclusive license on the patent from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd and the University of Lausanne, based on research conducted in Dr. Ping-Chih Ho's laboratory at the Ludwig Lausanne Branch.
The patent covers Pilatus' first-in-class antibody program targeting CD36, a fatty acid transporter highly expressed on regulatory T cells that acts as a metabolic gatekeeper supporting their survival and suppressive function under hypoxic and nutrient-deprived tumor conditions. Tregs are essential for maintaining immune balance but can enable tumor immune evasion by suppressing effector T cell activity within the tumor microenvironment.
Metabolic Checkpoint Strategy
Pilatus' antibody program is designed to disrupt CD36-mediated lipid uptake and signaling in Tregs, thereby reawakening the immune system's ability to attack tumors without triggering systemic autoimmunity. This approach represents a new therapeutic strategy in immuno-oncology, targeting the metabolic dependencies of regulatory T cells rather than traditional immune checkpoints.
"Our CD36 discoveries bridge metabolic control and immune suppression, paving the way for transformative treatments in oncology and beyond," said Dr. Ping-Chih Ho, Co-Inventor and Full Professor at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research at University of Lausanne.
Clinical Development Pipeline
The company's lead program, PLT012, targets CD36 to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore anti-tumor immunity in solid tumors. Pilatus Biosciences, founded in 2022 from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and supported by the Cancer Research Institute, focuses on developing metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies for liver and gastrointestinal cancers.
"By targeting the metabolic dependencies of regulatory T cells, we are developing a new class of therapies designed to unlock potent and durable anti-tumor immunity, while demonstrating synergistic potential with PD-1 blockade to benefit patients with difficult to treat cancers," said Raven Lin, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Pilatus Biosciences.
Nobel Recognition Validates Field
The patent announcement comes at a particularly significant time, coinciding with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine being awarded for groundbreaking discoveries in regulatory T cell biology. Prof. Shimon Sakaguchi, the discoverer of Tregs and one of this year's Nobel Laureates, was a recent keynote speaker at the Ho Lab anniversary symposium in Lausanne, where he presented on "Targeting Tregs for Cancer Immunotherapy."
"The recognition of Treg biology by the Nobel Committee highlights the importance of immune regulation in health and disease," noted Dr. Ho, emphasizing the growing recognition of immune regulation as a cornerstone of modern medicine.
The intellectual property milestone positions Pilatus Biosciences as a leader in the metabolic checkpoint immunotherapy space, with international operations including R&D teams in Switzerland and Taiwan. The company continues to develop its proprietary pipeline of metabolic checkpoint inhibitors to address unmet medical needs in cancer and certain metabolic and immunological diseases.
