Medicenna receives five IL-2 and IL-4 superkine patents

Executive Summary

• Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. has been granted five new patents covering its IL-2 and IL-4 superkine platforms, strengthening its intellectual property position across key global markets with expiration dates ranging from 2033 to 2040.
• The patents cover composition, formulation, combination, use, and therapeutic applications, specifically supporting lead clinical programs MDNA11 (MDNA11 in combination with anti-PD-1) and bizaxofusp (MDNA55).
• The company highlighted that these grants reinforce the clinical rationale and commercial potential for MDNA11 in the ongoing Ability-1 study and solidify exclusivity for bizaxofusp in brain cancer treatment as it pursues phase 3 readiness.

Key Details

• Patent Grants: Five new patents granted covering IL-2 and IL-4 superkines.
• Expiration Dates: Anticipated expiration dates range from 2033 to 2040, depending on specific cases and local rules, without accounting for potential extensions.
• Specific Patent Details:
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,338,269 B2: Covers IL-2 superagonists in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies. Granted in U.S., Australia, and Japan; allowed in Canada; another divisional application allowed in Japan. Owned by Medicenna.
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,274,735: Covers IL-4 fusion formulation for treatment of CNS tumours. Granted in U.S., Switzerland, Germany, France, and UK; allowed in Australia. Owned by Medicenna.
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,187,771: Covers method of producing Th9 T-cells. Granted in U.S., Switzerland, Germany, France, UK, India, and Japan. In-licensed from Stanford.
  • U.S. Patent No. 12,202,873: Covers superagonists, partial agonists, and antagonists of IL-2. Granted in U.S., Switzerland, China, Germany, France, UK, India, and Japan; allowed in Canada; another divisional application allowed in Japan. In-licensed from Stanford.
  • European Patent No. 3,049,525: Covers IL-4 receptor-binding fusion proteins and uses thereof. Granted in Europe, India, Japan, and U.S.; allowed in Canada. Co-owned with NIH.
• Clinical Program Impact:
  • MDNA11: The patent covering IL-2 superagonists in combination with anti-PD-1 antibodies provides important coverage for MDNA11, which is being evaluated in the ongoing phase 1/2 Ability-1 study.
  • Bizaxofusp (MDNA55): Protection granted to a novel formulation solidifies commercial exclusivity for treatment of brain cancers; the asset is phase 3 ready.
• Portfolio Status: Medicenna's global IP portfolio now comprises 86 granted or allowed patents.
• Upcoming Data: The company expects to share additional clinical data from the Ability-1 clinical trial during the balance of the calendar year.

Notable Quotes

• "These newly granted and allowed patents not only expand the breadth and depth of our intellectual property portfolio but also enhance the long-term commercial potential of our superkine programs," said Dr. Fahar Merchant, PhD, president and chief executive officer of Medicenna.
• "Notably, the patent covering IL-2 superagonists in combination with anti-PD1 antibodies provides important coverage for MDNA11, which is being evaluated in the ongoing phase 1/2 Ability-1 study, reinforcing both the clinical rationale and commercial potential."
• "Furthermore, protection granted to a novel formulation of bizaxofusp (MDNA55), used in the phase 2b recurrent glioblastoma clinical trial, solidifies its commercial exclusivity for treatment of brain cancers as we pursue potential partnering of this phase 3 ready asset."