Anixa Biosciences Announces Japanese Patent on Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Technology

Rhea-AI Summary

Anixa Biosciences, Inc. has announced that its collaborator, Cleveland Clinic, has received a 'Decision to Grant' notice from the Japan Patent Office for the patent application titled 'Ovarian Cancer Vaccines.' The patent extends the claims for this novel ovarian cancer vaccine technology to Japan, joining the European and U.S. patents awarded last year. Anixa is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the technology, which has shown promising results in pre-clinical studies. The vaccine has the potential to provide safe and effective preemptive immunity against epithelial ovarian carcinoma, the most common form of ovarian cancer.

Positive

• Expansion of patent coverage to Japan and related regions
• Promising results in pre-clinical studies for the ovarian cancer vaccine technology
• Exclusive worldwide licensee of the technology with broad protection
• Support from the National Cancer Institute's PREVENT Program

Negative

• None.

Medical Research Analyst

The granting of a patent by the Japan Patent Office for Anixa Biosciences' Ovarian Cancer Vaccines represents a significant milestone in the field of oncological research and development. The patent protection in a major market such as Japan is a strategic advantage, as it not only solidifies Anixa's intellectual property portfolio but also expands the potential for commercialization in Asia. The exclusive licensing of this technology from Cleveland Clinic underscores the company's commitment to advancing cancer prevention strategies.

From a medical research perspective, the pre-clinical results demonstrating the vaccine's ability to inhibit tumor growth and enhance survival are promising. The focus on the extracellular domain of anti-Müllerian hormone receptor II (AMHR2-ED) is noteworthy, as it suggests a targeted approach to immunization against epithelial ovarian carcinoma. This specificity could potentially lead to a breakthrough in preemptive cancer immunotherapy, a field that has been garnering significant interest for its potential to transform cancer care.

Market Research Analyst

For investors and stakeholders in Anixa Biosciences, the patent grant in Japan may signal future revenue streams and partnership opportunities. Japan's pharmaceutical market is one of the largest in the world and securing patent rights in this region can be seen as a proactive measure to facilitate market entry upon successful clinical development and regulatory approval. Moreover, the involvement of the National Cancer Institute's PREVENT Program in supporting the preclinical work adds credibility to the project and could positively influence investor sentiment.

It is important to note, however, that the path from patent protection to market success is fraught with challenges, including rigorous clinical trials, regulatory hurdles and the need for significant capital. The long-term impact on Anixa's financials will depend on the successful transition from preclinical to clinical stages and eventually to market approval. The company's stock performance may reflect the market's assessment of these future prospects.

Oncology Doctor

The development of an ovarian cancer vaccine has profound implications for women's health, particularly given the aggressiveness of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. As an oncologist, the potential for a vaccine that can prevent the onset of one of the most lethal gynecological cancers is a monumental step forward. The science behind targeting AMHR2-ED for preemptive immunity is rooted in the understanding that certain antigens are overexpressed in cancer cells, providing a pathway for the immune system to recognize and combat potential tumors before they manifest.

While the enthusiasm for this development is warranted, it is crucial to remain cognizant of the fact that the transition from preclinical to clinical efficacy can be unpredictable. Clinical trials will be the definitive test of the vaccine's safety and effectiveness in humans. The anticipation of these results will likely garner close attention from the medical community and could have far-reaching implications for cancer prevention protocols.

Broad coverage extended to Japan and related regions

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Anixa Biosciences, Inc. ("Anixa" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ANIX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer, today announced that its collaborator, Cleveland Clinic, has received a "Decision to Grant" notice from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for the patent application titled "Ovarian Cancer Vaccines."

Anixa Chairman and CEO Dr. Amit Kumar commented, "This new Japanese patent extends the expanded claims for this novel ovarian cancer vaccine technology to another geographic region, joining the European and U.S. patents awarded last year. As the exclusive worldwide licensee of the technology, we highly value the broad protection this patent provides as our research and development continues. If our vaccine is approved, one of the most aggressive gynecological cancers could be prevented from ever developing in women globally."

The Ovarian Cancer Vaccines patent was invented by the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy, Dr. Suparna Mazumder, and Dr. Justin Johnson of Cleveland Clinic. The researchers demonstrated in pre-clinical studies that vaccination against the extracellular domain of anti-Müllerian hormone receptor II (AMHR2-ED) significantly inhibits tumor growth and enhances overall survival. The results indicate that vaccinating women against AMHR2-ED could provide safe and effective preemptive immunity against epithelial ovarian carcinoma, the most common form of ovarian cancer.

Anixa is the exclusive worldwide licensee for the vaccine technology from Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit, multispecialty academic medical center. Preclinical work on the vaccine is supported by the National Cancer Institute's PREVENT Program, a peer-reviewed program designed to support development of the best ideas in cancer prevention.

About Anixa Bioscience's Ovarian Cancer Vaccine
Anixa's ovarian cancer vaccine takes advantage of endogenously produced proteins that have a function at certain times in life, but then become "retired" and disappear from the body. One such protein is the extracellular domain of anti-Müllerian hormone receptor II (AMHR2-ED) which regulates growth and development of egg-containing follicles in the ovaries and is expressed throughout much of a woman's life, with expression naturally and markedly declining during menopause, but which is present in the majority of endothelian ovarian carcinomas. Activating the immune system against this "retired" protein provides preemptive immune protection against emerging ovarian tumors that express AMHR2-ED. The vaccine also contains an adjuvant that activates an innate immune response, which allows the immune system to mount a response against emerging tumors to prevent them from growing. This vaccine technology was invented by the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy, who was the Mort and Iris November Distinguished Chair in Innovative Breast Cancer Research in the Department of Inflammation and Immunity at Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Tuohy was inventor of the technology, which Cleveland Clinic exclusively licensed to Anixa Biosciences. He was entitled to a portion of the commercialization revenues received by Cleveland Clinic and also held equity in Anixa.

About Anixa Biosciences, Inc.
Anixa is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the treatment and prevention of cancer. Anixa's therapeutic portfolio consists of an ovarian cancer immunotherapy program being developed in collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center, which uses a novel type of CAR-T, known as chimeric endocrine receptor T cell (CER-T) technology. The Company's vaccine portfolio includes a novel vaccine being developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to prevent breast cancer – specifically triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most lethal form of the disease – as well as a vaccine to prevent ovarian cancer. These vaccine technologies focus on immunizing against "retired" proteins that have been found to be expressed in certain forms of cancer. Anixa's unique business model of partnering with world-renowned research institutions on clinical development allows the Company to continually examine emerging technologies in complementary fields for further development and commercialization. To learn more, visit www.anixa.com or follow Anixa on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements that are not historical fact may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect Anixa's current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "likely," "will" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in "Item 1A - Risk Factors" and other sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this press release.

Contact:
Mike Catelani
President, COO & CFO
mcatelani@anixa.com
408-708-9808

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SOURCE Anixa Biosciences, Inc.

What is the title of the patent application related to ovarian cancer vaccines?

The patent application is titled 'Ovarian Cancer Vaccines'.

Who has received a 'Decision to Grant' notice from the Japan Patent Office for the patent application?

Cleveland Clinic, Anixa's collaborator, has received the notice.

What is the significance of the Japanese patent for Anixa?

The Japanese patent extends the claims for the ovarian cancer vaccine technology to Japan, providing broad protection.

What type of cancer does the vaccine aim to prevent?

The vaccine aims to provide preemptive immunity against epithelial ovarian carcinoma, the most common form of ovarian cancer.

Who are the inventors of the Ovarian Cancer Vaccines patent?

The patent was invented by Dr. Vincent Tuohy, Dr. Suparna Mazumder, and Dr. Justin Johnson of Cleveland Clinic.

What program supports the preclinical work on the vaccine?

The preclinical work is supported by the National Cancer Institute's PREVENT Program, designed to support development of the best ideas in cancer prevention.