IST Secure Patent for Anti-Cancer Treatment

The Australian monoclonal antibody company, Immune System Therapeutics Limited (IST), has announced today patent protection for its new anti-cancer treatment. The method treats blood cancers which express a target called lambda myeloma antigen (LMA), which was discovered by IST research scientists. The patent is a significant addition to IST’s growing platform of new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

The patent 'Target for B-cell disorders' , covers treatment for a broad range of blood cancers and involves the administration of antibodies that bind to LMA. This inhibits growth of, or kills, the cancer cells found in B cell lymphoproliferative disorders. IST is currently developing its second antibody candidate, IST-1458, for the treatment of blood cancers that display the LMA target.

The patent provides protection for the company’s platform technology until the year 2025

Immune System Therapeutics' Chief Executive Officer, Alan Liddle, said, “The granting of this patent confers further certainty and significantly increases the commercial value of IST’s promising new antibody platform for the treatment of a range of common human diseases.

“IST’s growing patent portfolio is a major commercial asset that will help ensure long-term exclusive licensing rights and underpin our global commercial opportunities.

“It is another positive step towards achieving our business goal of developing a range of effective new medical treatments based on our significant portfolio of antibody platform technologies for a range of cancers and diseases with major unmet clinical needs.”
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n June 2011, IST received Orphan Drug Designation for its lead antibody product MDX-1097 from US health regulators, giving the company and its licensing partners access to an accelerated approval process and marketing exclusivity in the US for a number of years.
The company also recently announced it would expand a Phase II clinical trial of its drug, called MDX-1097 for multiple myeloma blood cancer in Australia following encouraging responses from the first dosed patients and positive safety data.