Defence Therapeutics Inc. has achieved significant milestones in strengthening its intellectual property portfolio with multiple patent allowances and issuances across key jurisdictions, marking a pivotal moment for the Canadian biopharmaceutical company's proprietary Accum® technology platform.
USPTO Grants Notice of Allowance for Multimer Technology
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance on October 17, 2024, for Defence's US patent application no. 18/318,384, filed in May 2023 with fast-track examination. The patent, expected to issue in early 2025, stems from Defence's discovery that Accum®-based multimers demonstrate synergistic efficacy and enhanced stability compared to their monomeric counterparts.
The allowed application contains valuable composition-of-matter claims covering Accum®-based dimers and multimers, which encompass the molecular entities central to Defence's flagship AccuTOX® and ARM® anti-cancer programs. These claims extend to dimers and multimers used independently or conjugated to antigens, carriers, or antibodies, with the latter being actively investigated for novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development.
The US patent will provide market exclusivity in the world's largest commercial market for innovative anti-cancer therapeutics, with protection extending to 2043. This allowance also validates the efficacy and patentability of Defence's technology from a major patent office, supporting the company's planned international filings under PCT application no. PCT/CA2023/051758, scheduled for Q3 2025.
Vaccine Platform Technology Gains Additional Protection
Defence has expanded its patent coverage for vaccine technology based on covalent conjugation of Accum® variants to enhance immunogenicity. The company secured US patent no. 12,150,989, issued on November 26, 2024, which includes composition-of-matter coverage extending Defence's protection to Accum®-based immunogenicity-enhancing variants derived from any steroid acid.
This addition complements Defence's existing patents for this technology in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. The Singapore Patent Office has also allowed counterpart application no. 11202304388T, with the Singaporean patent expected to be granted in early 2025 upon payment of requisite governmental fees.
Strategic Implications for Clinical Development
"The recent issuance of these patents and allowances with broad claims covering our leading clinical candidates validates the innovative nature and the strength of our efficacy results, as we remain committed to the development of novel therapeutics for cancers," said Sébastien Plouffe, CEO and President of Defence Therapeutics. "In addition, it secures Defence to negotiate licensing agreements with strong Biotech and Pharma companies."
The patent developments demonstrate Defence's commitment to building a robust intellectual property foundation, enabling potential licensing agreements and strategic partnerships to improve the potency of vaccines already approved or currently in development.
Leadership and Future Outlook
Defence has recently strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Dr. Svetlana Selivanova, Dr. Maxime Parisotto, and Dr. Elias Theodorou. Combined with the fortified patent portfolio, these developments position the company for significant advancement in 2025 as it works toward bringing novel anti-cancer therapies to market.
The company's core ACCUM® technology enables precision delivery of radio-immuno-conjugates or ADCs in their intact form to target cells, as well as vaccine antigens, potentially achieving increased efficacy and potency against cancer and infectious diseases.
