Biotechnology company GeoVax Labs has expanded its intellectual property portfolio with a newly allowed patent describing an innovative approach to treating solid tumors. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance for a method involving a triple-combination strategy targeting multiple cancer types, including glioblastoma, breast, prostate, head and neck, glioma, and lung cancers.
The patented therapeutic method involves three critical steps: direct intratumoral administration of an adenoviral vector encoding purine nucleoside phosphorylase (Ad/PNP), followed by local prodrug administration of fludarabine phosphate, and subsequent radiation therapy. This sophisticated approach aims to generate localized cytotoxic activity within tumor microenvironments while minimizing systemic toxicity.
David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax, emphasized the significance of the patent, noting that while the claims do not directly mirror current clinical programs, they establish a crucial foundation for future therapeutic developments. The company's expanding intellectual property estate now encompasses over 135 granted or pending patent applications across 23 distinct patent families.
The newly allowed patent strengthens GeoVax's Gedeptin platform, which was exclusively licensed from PNP Therapeutics, Inc. and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The platform's unique approach involves using a non-replicating adenoviral vector to enzymatically convert a prodrug into a cytotoxic metabolite, selectively targeting and destroying tumor cells.
This innovative strategy offers several potential advantages for cancer treatment, including localized cytotoxicity, reduced systemic side effects, and potential synergy with existing immunotherapy approaches like immune checkpoint inhibitors. GeoVax is preparing to evaluate Gedeptin in an upcoming Phase 2 clinical trial for patients with first recurrence of head and neck cancer.
The patent's broad applicability across multiple solid tumor types represents a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy. By focusing on precise, localized treatment mechanisms, the approach could potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce the often-challenging side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments.
