Cancer combinatorial immunotherapy using anti-OX40 agonist and anti-PD-L1 antagonist: a patent evaluation of US2018256711A1

OX40 agonists for cancer treatment: a patent review

INTRODUCTION

OX40 is an immune checkpoint in cancer and its presence in cancer is a good prognosis, making it a highly relevant target for the development of new immunotherapies.

AREAS COVERED

The patent literature reveals vital information on new trends in cancer therapies. The authors used the patent databases of the six major patent offices in the world: United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organization, Japan Patent Office, State Office of Intellectual Property of China and Korean Intellectual Property Office, to generate a panorama of patents related to OX40 agonists. Specific patents have been grouped into innovative patents and adoption patents.

EXPERT OPINION

An increasing trend in the development of OX40 agonists in cancer, particularly in the years 2018 and 2019. United States was the leader in generating patents, followed by China and England. Major pharmaceutical companies have at least one anti-OX40 agonist, MEDI6469 and MEDI-0562 (AstraZeneca), PF-04518600 (Pfizer), GSK3174998 (GlaxoSmithKline), BMS-986,178 (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and MOXR0916 (Roche), which represent 68% of clinical trials conducted with OX40 agonists.

Colon carcinoma treatment using bispecific anti-GITR/CTLA-4 antibodies: a patent evaluation of WO2018091739

Introduction: GITR is a receptor that increases the activation of T lymphocytes against tumor cells. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on activating GITR to increase the immune response in various types of cancer. The authors of WO2018091739 patent propose a method to eradicate cancer by using bispecific anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies.Areas covered: WO2018091739 patent describes anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, pharmaceutical composition that contains it, and their application for cancer treatment, particularly colon carcinoma. Anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies are used at a dosage of 0.0003-3 mg antibody/kg patient weight and is suspended in an isotonic solution consisting of sodium phosphate, sucrose, NaCl, and polysorbate 80.Expert opinion: WO2018091739 only demonstrates that bispecific antibodies activate T cells, an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of CHO cells, and tumor inhibition in murine models of colon carcinoma. There are no clinical trials that show that treatment with bispecific antibodies can induce an antitumor response in cancer patients.

Advances in patent applications related to cancer vaccine using CpG-ODN and OX40 association

Introduction: This review aims to assess the available technologies, advances, and trends from technological readiness level 4 to level 8 for cancer immunologic therapeutics using the association of OX40 and CPG-ODN, usually known as cancer vaccine.Areas covered: Patent documents and clinic studies referring to the use of CpG-ODN and of OX40 association for cancer therapeutics. Patent data were obtained within the worldwide basis of the European Patent Office (EPO). The 138 patents of 36 patent families found were analyzed focusing on word distribution of technology developers and potential markets, legal status, annual evolution of first priority, technological domains, applicants and co-applicants and detailed analysis of each technology. Two clinical studies are in progress.Expert opinion: Traditional methods in post cancer diagnosis are being replaced by immunological association therapies. It is expected that the development of cancer vaccines will expand the scope of cancer-specific immunotherapy, especially if associated with alternative systems for expression and delivery with future potential. It is expected that genetic and controlled and/or specific nano delivery are improved. Furthermore, these new developments will likely address the problem of long-term treatments, reducing cancer mortality and reducing patient numbers worldwide.