Medicenna Strengthens U.S. Patent Estate with Newly Issued and Allowed Patents Across its IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkine Platforms

Executive Summary

• Medicenna Therapeutics announced the issuance of two new U.S. patents and the allowance of a third U.S. patent application covering its proprietary IL-4 and IL-13 Superkine platforms, including the clinical-stage bizaxofusp for recurrent glioblastoma.
• The grants significantly strengthen the company’s global intellectual property estate, which now comprises over 100 active granted patents and applications worldwide, protecting its lead clinical programs: bizaxofusp, MDNA11, and MDNA113.
• Parallel patent grants were secured in Australia and Canada, expanding geographic protection for key Superkine families, formulations, and combination therapy applications.

Key Details

• U.S. Patent No. 12,503,496: “Interleukin-4 Receptor-Binding Fusion Proteins and Uses Thereof” (co-owned with NIH) – covers IL-4 Superkine fusion proteins for enhancing cellular immunotherapy; family now includes 3 issued U.S. patents plus grants in Europe and India.
• U.S. Patent No. 12,590,133: “IL-13/IL-4 Superkines: Immune Cell Targeting Constructs and Methods of Use Thereof” (in-licensed from Stanford University) – covers IL-13 Superkine constructs, vectors, and engineered cells; granted in the U.S. and China, with pending applications in Canada and Europe.
• U.S. Patent Application No. 18/248,601: “Combination Therapy of MDNA55 and a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor a (VEGF-A)” (Medicenna-owned) – covers combinatorial treatment of CNS tumors with bizaxofusp + VEGF-A agents; pending in Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, and Korea.
• Australian Patent No. 2018347796: “IL-4 Fusion Formulations for Treatment of Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors” – covers bizaxofusp formulation for CNS tumors; granted in Australia, Europe, and the U.S., with pending applications in Canada, China, and India.
• Canadian Patent No. 3,067,909: “Uses and Methods for IL-2 Superagonists, Agonists, and Fusions Thereof” – covers IL-2 Super Agonist + checkpoint inhibitors for cancer; granted in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.S., with additional pending applications in China, Europe, India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.
• Portfolio Status: Over 100 active granted patents and applications worldwide protecting the IL-2, IL-4, and IL-13 receptor systems.

Notable Quotes

• “These newly issued and allowed U.S. patents underscore the depth and breadth of the Superkine science Medicenna has built and the strength of the IP estate now protecting the platforms behind bizaxofusp, MDNA11 and MDNA113,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our cytokine engineering work spans three distinct receptor systems, including IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 and these grants extend protection into important new applications, including cellular immunotherapy and combination treatment of CNS tumors. With more than 100 active granted patents and applications worldwide, Medicenna has assembled what we believe is one of the most comprehensive patent estates in Superkine-based immunotherapy.”