Biotechnology firm Cartherics Pty Ltd has been granted a Chinese patent for a novel method to enhance the function of immune cells, reinforcing the company’s position in the field of off-the-shelf therapies for high-impact women’s diseases, including ovarian cancer and endometriosis.
The patent, titled “Method for Providing Immune Cells with Enhanced Function”, covers the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in which the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) has been specifically knocked out. This receptor is known to suppress immune cell activity in the tumour microenvironment of solid cancers.
Adenosine, present at elevated levels in many solid tumours, inhibits immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells. By removing the A2AR, Cartherics’ NK cells are expected to remain active within the tumour, improving their ability to attack cancerous cells.
Professor Alan Trounson AO, CEO of Cartherics, said: “Cartherics’ strategy for destroying solid tumours involves editing critical genes in our cell products to enable the immune system to operate as designed to control cancer growth. Blocking the A2AR gene is likely to be a significant addition to our strategic arsenal against cancer.”
The patent strengthens Cartherics’ intellectual property position and applies to multiple candidates within its pipeline. China’s patent system offers significant commercial potential, particularly given the scale and growth of the market.
Cartherics is advancing a mission to transform women’s health through off-the-shelf immune cell therapies, with a pipeline targeting ovarian cancer, triple negative breast cancer, endometriosis, and other serious conditions. The company’s allogeneic iPSC platform is designed to generate NK cells, T cells, and other immune cells with enhanced functionality, using precise genetic engineering at “safe harbour” genomic sites.
The company’s lead product, CTH-401, is a CAR-iNK cell therapy targeting TAG-72, a well-validated tumour antigen. CTH-401 also includes deletion of two genes associated with immunosuppression. Additional CAR-immune cell products in development aim to address a wide range of cancers and conditions, including pancreatic cancer, severe endometriosis, and neurological indications such as Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
