Celyad Obtains Additional US Patent for Cancer Treatment Based on TCR-Deficient Allogeneic CAR-T cells

Celyad recently announced the issuance of United States Patent No. 9,663,763 relating to Celyad’s method of treating cancer by administering allogeneic primary human T cells that are engineered to be T-Cell Receptor (TCR)-deficient and to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR).

US Patent 9,663,763 was examined under the Cancer Immunotherapy Pilot Program, also known as the “Patents 4 Patients” initiative, and is the third patent in Celyad’s allogeneic intellectual property portfolio awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This new patent claims specifically methods of treating cancer patients with allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T immunotherapies. Earlier patents were related to the allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T cells per se, and to methods of producing them. The combination of these granted patents strengthens Celyad’s position and further confirms its leadership in engineered cell therapy, and in the allogeneic CAR-T space.

Allogeneic technology has the potential to broaden the therapeutic applications of CAR T-Cell immunotherapies as it does not depend on cells derived from the patient. TCR-deficient CAR-T cells are aimed at avoiding or greatly reducing adverse immune reactions (such as a graft- versus-host-disease (GVHD) response) which would greatly benefit patients.

“We are pleased to have obtained this new patent. The combination of this patent with the earlier granted US Patents consolidates our strong IP position in the CAR-T field and strengthens our IP portfolio covering key elements in the allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T cells production value chain,” said Dr. Christian Homsy, CEO of Celyad.

“Allogeneic CAR-T cells are of increasing interest to many Pharma and BioPharma companies involved in cell-based cancer immunotherapies. We are looking to maximize the significant value of our allogeneic CAR-T assets through strategic collaborations and partnerships, such as the ones we have established with ONO Pharma and Novartis,” added Dr. Georges Rawadi, VP Business Development & IP at Celyad.

Celyad is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of specialized cell-based therapies. The company utilizes its expertise in cell engineering to target cancer. Celyad’s Natural Killer Receptor based T-Cell (NKR-T) platform has the potential to treat a broad range of solid and hematologic tumors. Its lead oncology candidate, the CAR-T NKR-2, has been evaluated in a single dose – escalation Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety and feasibility of CAR-T NKR-2 cells in patients suffering from AML or MM. This Phase I study was successfully completed in September 2016. Celyad was founded in 2007 and is based in Mont-Saint Guibert, Belgium, and Boston, MA. For more information, visit www.celyad.com.