Aprea Therapeutics Expands Global Patent Portfolio for WEE1 and ATR Precision Oncology Programs
核心洞察
Aprea Therapeutics announced an expanded intellectual property portfolio now comprising 28 issued patents and 30 pending applications across the U.S. and international markets.
The WEE1 (搜索) kinase inhibitor program, led by APR-1051, is protected by pending applications that could extend exclusivity through 2047, excluding potential regulatory exclusivities.
The ATR inhibitor program, anchored by ATRN-119, holds granted patents expiring 2035–2037, with pending applications potentially extending protection into 2045.
Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE), a clinical-stage precision medicine oncology company focused on targeted therapies for biomarker-defined cancers, announced an expansion of its global intellectual property portfolio covering its WEE1 (搜索) and ATR inhibitor programs. The company's portfolio now includes 28 issued patents and 30 pending patent applications across the U.S. and international markets.
"Our expanding patent portfolio reflects Aprea's commitment to innovation and building a differentiated leadership position in precision medicine," said Oren Gilad, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea. "A strong global intellectual property portfolio is a critical component of our strategy, supporting the advancement of potentially best in class oncology therapies while protecting the long-term value of our programs."
WEE1 Kinase Inhibitor Program
The intellectual property covering Aprea's WEE1 (搜索) kinase inhibitor program includes two pending U.S. patent applications, one pending U.S. provisional application, two granted non-U.S. patents (Australia and Korea), and 12 pending non-U.S. patent applications. The WEE1 family of applications, if granted, will expire in 2047, not including any regulatory exclusivities that may be awarded.
The WEE1 (搜索) portfolio covers key aspects of the program, including proprietary compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use. Aprea's lead WEE1 inhibitor, APR-1051, is currently being evaluated in the ACESOT-1051 Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring certain cancer-associated gene alterations.
ATR Inhibitor Program
Aprea's ATR inhibitor program is protected by a patent estate that includes four granted U.S. patents, one pending U.S. application, and one pending international application. There are 22 granted non-U.S. patents and 13 pending non-U.S. patent applications. The granted patents will expire between 2035 and 2037, while the pending applications, if granted, could extend exclusivity into 2045. Additional regulatory exclusivities of up to five years may also be available.
This portfolio comprehensively covers the program's proprietary compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use for ATRN-119. During 2025, Aprea determined the recommended Phase 2 monotherapy dose (RP2D) of 1,100 mg once daily for ATRN-119 in the ABOYA-119 Phase 1/2a dose-escalation study and subsequently closed this study to focus resources on the clinical development of APR-1051.
Building on the completion of dose escalation, the Company is considering further ATRN-119 development in combination approaches that could expand its therapeutic potential. Aprea believes ATRN-119's mechanism of action, potentially favorable safety profile, and pharmacologic characteristics could make it an ideal candidate for combination with other anti-cancer therapies, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Precision Oncology Approach
Aprea is pioneering an approach to treat cancer by exploiting vulnerabilities associated with cancer cell mutations. This approach was developed to kill tumors while minimizing the effect on normal, healthy cells, decreasing the risk of toxicity frequently associated with chemotherapy and other treatments.
Aprea's technology has potential applications across multiple cancer types, enabling it to target a range of tumors, including ovarian, colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers. The company's lead programs are APR-1051, an oral, small-molecule inhibitor of WEE1 (搜索) kinase, and ATRN-119, a small molecule ATR inhibitor, both in clinical development for solid tumor indications.