Nykode Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Key Patent Covering Individualized Neoantigen Based Vaccines

OSLO, Norway, Aug. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nykode Therapeutics ASA (OSE: NYKD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel immunotherapies, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 12,059,459, entitled, “Therapeutic Anticancer Neoepitope Vaccine”.

The newly issued patent describes Nykode’s fully individualized neoantigen based vaccine, VB10.NEO, which is in development for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours. The 20 year expiration date of this patent is January 5, 2037. Related patents were previously granted to the company in Russia, India, and Australia.

Michael Engsig, CEO of Nykode, said, “We are very pleased with the granting of this important patent in the U.S., a key market for Nykode. Continuously expanding our patent protection is a core strategy for us. The granting of this patent is a testament to the world-class innovation taking place in Nykode's labs. We remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in medicine, bringing hope to patients and their families around the globe.”

About VB10.NEO

VB10.NEO is a proprietary individualized neoantigen vaccine in development for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors under an exclusive, worldwide clinical collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. The vaccine is designed to be produced on-demand according to the neoantigen profile of an individual patient. Neoantigens are proteins generated by tumor-specific mutations not present in normal tissues and are thus an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy as they may be recognized as foreign by the immune system.

Nykode is currently conducting a clinical study evaluating VB10.NEO: VB N-02, an open-label Phase 1b, dose-escalation study of the safety and antigen-specific immune responses elicited by VB10.NEO in combination with Roche’s checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab in patients with locally advanced and metastatic tumors (NCT05018273).

About Nykode Therapeutics

Nykode Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel immunotherapies with a focus on the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Nykode’s modular vaccine technology specifically targets antigens to antigen presenting cells (APC), which have been shown to induce a broad, strong and long-lasting antigen specific immune response in cancer, which correlates with clinical responses.

Nykode’s lead product candidates are VB10.16, a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HPV16 induced malignancies which demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy results from its Phase 2 trial for the treatment of cervical cancer. VB10.16 is being expanded into multiple trials for treatment of head and neck cancer and cervical cancer. VB10.NEO, an individualized cancer neoantigen vaccine, is exclusively out-licensed to Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

The Company’s partnerships include Genentech within oncology and a multi-target collaboration with Regeneron in oncology and infectious diseases.

Nykode is also utilizing its APC-targeted technology to create an inverse vaccine platform for the potential use in autoimmune disorders, organ transplant rejections, anti-drug antibody reactions and allergy.

Nykode Therapeutics’ shares are traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: NYKD). Further information about Nykode Therapeutics can be found at .

Forward-looking statements for Nykode Therapeutics

This announcement and any materials distributed in connection with this announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect the company's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Contact for Nykode Therapeutics ASA:

Head of Investor Relations, Alexandra Deschner

Nykode Therapeutics ASA

Nykode Therapeutics ASA

Oslo Science Park

Gaustadalléen 21

N-0349 Oslo, Norway