The purpose of this column is to highlight and summarize recent key patents in the pharmaceutical arena issued by the US Patent Office in January-February, 2025.
Depleting Tumor-Specific Tregs
A. Rudensky and G. Plitas; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, US; U.S. Patent # 12,235,270; February 25, 2025.
Treg cells, or regulatory T cells, are a subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and prevent autoimmune diseases. CCR8 is a protein found on the surface of Treg cells within tumors. It is a regulator of immune response. The present invention provides technologies for treating cancer by depleting Treg cells, especially CCR8 cells, and not affecting other immune cells. The invention has developed a CCR8-targeting agent that depletes tumor-infiltrating Treg cells. The inventors also studied the effects of CCR8 Treg expression on tumor volume, metastasis, and proliferation.
Method for Eliciting Infectious Immunological Tolerance
K. Uchida, K. Takeda and K. Okumura; Junten Bio Co., Japan; U.S. Patent # 12,234,287; February 25, 2025.
Transplantation serves as a key solution for terminal organ failure affecting various organs. Despite significant advancements in managing graft rejection, most transplantations ultimately face rejection without a consistent immunosuppressive regimen. Current immunosuppressive therapies suppress not only the immune responses aimed at the transplanted organ but also the overall immune system, leaving transplant recipients at greater risk for infections and cancer. The present patent discloses a novel technology concerning immune tolerance. More specifically, it addresses a pharmaceutical composition containing anergic or hyporesponsive T cells, the processes for manufacturing this composition, and the quality control measures associated with it. An anergic cell is a type of immune cell, particularly T cells, that has become functionally unresponsive to specific antigens. This unresponsiveness occurs after exposure to an antigen in the presence of certain inhibitory signals, preventing the cell from activating and responding to that antigen.
Anti-Complement C1s Antibodies and Uses Thereof
P.V. Vlasselaer, G. Parry, N.E. Stagliano, and S. Panicker; Bioverativ USA Inc., US; U.S. Patent # 12, 215,169; February 4, 2025.
The complement system is part of our body’s immune system that cleans up damaged cells, helps to heal after injury or an infection, and destroys bacteria. However, dysregulation or overactivation of the complement system can contribute to the development of various immune disorders, such as autoimmune diseases. The C1 complex, composed of C1q, C1,r, and C1s,1s is the initiator of the complement activation pathway. C1s is associated with inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer development. The present invention describes anti-complement C1s antibodies that inhibit the proteolytic activity of C1s. The antibody contains a light chain and heavy chain complementarity-determining region-1 sequences.
Water Irradiated with Electromagnetic Energies for Use as a Medicament
L. Camisasca; LWP Life Water Prevention SRL, Italy; U.S. Patent # 12, 194,097; January 14, 2025.
This invention is related to the improvement of balance and pain relief through a method of applying electromagnetic energies to water. This water is treated as a medicament to treat these conditions, potentially eliminating the need for direct treatment with a medical neurological instrument. It is designed to treat water by subjecting it to light energy in two distinct wavelength ranges, 500-700 nm and 701-1050 nm, as well as an electrical energy input. Moreover, at least one of these forms of energy is applied in the form of pulsed frequencies. The pulses are characterized by two frequencies: a low-frequency pulse between 0.1 to 10 Hz and a higher frequency pulse between 40 and 1500 Hz. Combining these energy sources and their specific frequencies may have a unique effect on the water’s therapeutic capabilities.
Gold Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof
M. Yan, B. Wu, W.G. Ndugire, and O. Ramstrom; The University of Massachusetts, US; U.S. Patent # 12,187,747; January 7, 2025.
There is a growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, particularly among Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. There have been no new classes of clinically-approved antibiotics for Gram-negative bacteria since the discovery of quinolones in 1968. Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to many antibiotics. Gold compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts have potential antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. These compounds are designed to be used as part of pharmaceutical compositions aimed at treating infections, particularly those caused by resistant bacteria. This patent provides detailed chemical structures and pharmaceutical formulations of gold-based compounds.
Antimicrobial Superabsorbent Compositions
T. Hall, S.C. Cox, L.M. Grover, and D. Kershaw; Matoke Holdings Ltd., Great Britain; U.S. Patent # 12,225,905; February 18, 2025.
There is a persistent demand for antimicrobial products that are not only effective but also convenient, especially in wound care and the management of chronic and unresolved infections, as well as in surgical settings. The present invention provides a composition that includes an enzyme capable of converting a substrate to release hydrogen peroxide, a precursor-substrate that can be transformed into a substrate for the enzyme, and a water-absorbing material or component. Crucially, this composition lacks sufficient free water to allow either the precursor-substrate to convert into the substrate or for the enzyme to act on the substrate. Also, the composition is formulated as a powder. Upon contact with a fluid, like wound exudate, the composition can absorb the fluid and form a gel, potentially a hydrogel, that produces hydrogen peroxide. This gel acts as a protective barrier for wounds, reducing the risk of infection and aiding in healing. The powdered form allows for rapid fluid absorption and quick gel formation, making it especially useful for field treatments in military or emergency service settings.
Oral Appliance for Delivery of Medicaments and/or Other Substances
P.J. Zegarelli; Emanate Biomedical Inc., US; U.S. Patent # 12,207,984; January 28, 2025.
Topical delivery of medications into the oral cavity has several advantages. The present invention describes an oral appliance that delivers medication to teeth and/or soft tissue areas in the oral cavity. The appliance fits the contours of the teeth and soft tissue areas. The appliance can be monolithic or layered. The material for the oral appliance is a polymer gel, a hydrogel, or a brush polymer. It can be constructed with 3D printing using digital images of the oral cavity (called base images).
Author Details
Neelam Sharma, MS; Lakshmi Lavanya Kundurthy, BE; and Hemant N. Joshi, Ph.D., MBA*- Tara Innovations, LLC, www.tarainnovations.com. *hemantjoshi.tara@gmail.com
Publication Details
This article appeared in American Pharmaceutical Review:Vol. 28, No. 3
April 2025
Pages: 70-71
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