Trillium Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:TRIL) announced earlier this month that its patent applications for SIRPaFc got a Notice of Application from the U.S Patent and Trademark Office.
The immune-oncology company sought the two patents for the use of SIRPaFc as a cancer therapy. The U.S Patent and Trademark Office licensed the U.S Patent Application No. 13/320,629 and U.S. Patent Application No. 15/962,540. Trillium has been developing two biologics from SIRPaFc, which are currently code-named TTI-621 and TTI-622. The two treatments target a signal called CD47which cancer cells use to avoid being destroyed by the immune system.
The first patent application for TTI-621 aims to use the therapy against all CD47+ cancer cells, as well s tumors including the solid and hematologic cancers. Similar treatments that use this approach have already been licensed in other countries including Canada, Australia, and Japan. The patent application for TTI-622 targets SIRPa linked to an IgG4 Fc.
“Intellectual property remains a top priority for Trillium, and the allowance of these two important patents further strengthens our position in the SIRPaFc CD47 space,” stated Trillium CEO Jan Skvarka.
The CEO also noted that despite covering the two CD47-targeting agents with SIRPaFc’s specific composition of matter, the company continues to expand its coverage. The goal is to push for the use or promote the use of cancer therapies that are based on SIRPaFc. Skvarka also added that the patents awarded also brought some joy because the method of use patent also encompasses solid tumor treatment.
Bringing the SIRPaFc therapies to market will be a major milestone for Trillium
Trillium is particularly excited about the patent award in the U.S market for numerous reasons. The first is that the approval will allow the cancer treatments to reach patients as soon as possible. The second major reason is that the mechanism for which Trillium’s SIRPaFc therapies work has a high chance of success and thus the potential to change the lives of many cancer patients.
The patents will allow Trillium to tap into the market and the treatments may even grant it a competitive edge, which will hopefully translate into strong revenue growth. However, the company is yet to disclose commercialization plans.
