Fate Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Patent Covering Use of Viral Transduction Enhancers

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent No. 9,675,641 covering the use of prostaglandins as viral transduction enhancers for the genetic modification of CD34+ hematopoietic cells. The patent, which expires in 2029, is owned by the Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation and is licensed exclusively to Fate Therapeutics in all fields.

“The use of small molecules in the manufacture of cell therapies is proving to be a key component for promoting efficacy. Studies have demonstrated that ex vivo small molecule modulation can enhance the viral transduction, engraftment, and survival of CD34+ cells and the persistence, proliferation, and anti-tumor activity of NK cells and T cells,” said Scott Wolchko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fate Therapeutics. “Using prostaglandins to improve vector copy number and percentage of hematopoietic cells transduced in the manufacture of gene therapies is a promising approach to help enable the development of curative treatments for a range of severe genetic disorders.”

This newly issued patent is the second issued US patent in this family. The company’s proprietary rights broadly cover methods of using prostaglandins and viral vectors, including lentiviral vectors, to enhance ex vivo genetic engineering of hematopoietic cells. The company also has filed corresponding patent applications to seek similar patent protection in key markets throughout the world, including Europe and Japan.

Fate Therapeutics has an extensive intellectual property portfolio covering ex vivo small molecule modulation of hematopoietic cells. Multiple groups have shown that ex vivo small molecule modulation, including modulation with prostaglandins in particular, has the potential to significantly enhance the efficacy of hematopoietic cell therapies.

Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of programmed cellular immunotherapies for cancer and immune disorders. The company’s hematopoietic cell therapy pipeline is comprised of NK- and T-cell immuno-oncology programs, including off-the-shelf product candidates derived from engineered-induced pluripotent cell lines, and immuno-regulatory programs, including product candidates to prevent life-threatening complications in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation and to promote immune tolerance in patients with autoimmune disease. Its adoptive cell therapy programs are based on the company’s novel ex vivo cell programming approach, which it applies to modulate the therapeutic function and direct the fate of immune cells. For more information, visit www.fatetherapeutics.com.