Vaxiion Granted Key Patent Related to Minicell-based Therapeutics

“The issuance of this cornerstone patent has firmly established Vaxiion as the industry leader in the field of minicell-based delivery systems and provides significant value by enhancing our ability to protect and license our products in the U.S. marketplace.”

The recently issued patent (No. US 8,101,396) encompasses compositions of matter related to the antibody-based targeted delivery of biologically active compounds (including therapeutics) using Vaxiion’s proprietary minicell-delivery platform technology.

Vaxiion’s targeted therapeutic delivery platform is a first-in-class biodegradable delivery technology based on recombinant nanoparticles, called minicells, derived from bacteria. Minicells can be engineered to contain a wide variety of biologically active compounds including anti-tumor agents such as small molecule drugs, therapeutic nucleic acids (such as shRNA), and protein toxins. The targeting antibody of choice can be displayed on the surface of the minicells and used to actively target them at specific sites of disease, where the therapeutic payload is delivered directly into the targeted cells, making for a remarkably versatile delivery system.

According to Matthew Giacalone, Ph.D., Vaxiion’s Director of Business Development, “The issuance of this cornerstone patent has firmly established Vaxiion as the industry leader in the field of minicell-based delivery systems and provides significant value by enhancing our ability to protect and license our products in the U.S. marketplace.”

Currently, Vaxiion is leveraging its platform with the development of several oncology products designed to target a wide variety of tumors and/or their vasculature and to overcome existing drug-resistance mechanisms. Michael Newman, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of R&D, stated, “We have potent, broad-spectrum in vitro activity in a wide variety of key cancer models and are rapidly expanding our in vivo database with targeted minicells. Our data, combined with the issuance of this key patent in the U.S., positions Vaxiion well with respect to our development goals and business development efforts.”

Vaxiion’s patent portfolio includes three additional U.S. patents (No’s. US 7,183,105, US 7,396,822, and US 7,871,815) covering other minicell-based compositions related to gene delivery, vaccines, and research tools. The company also has many other pending U.S. and foreign patent applications.

About Vaxiion

Vaxiion Therapeutics, Inc. is a San Diego-based biotechnology company dedicated to becoming the industry leader in targeted oncology therapeutics. Presently, Vaxiion’s core focus is the development of its targeted nanotoxin (TNT™) platforms to generate products for various oncology indications. The company is conducting key experiments with two classes of targeted TNT™ products, each of which offers distinct competitive advantages for targeted delivery in cancer. Vaxiion’s targeted nanodelivery platforms are based on genetically engineered, non-living bacterial minicells that are capable of packaging, targeting, and delivering a wide array of therapeutically relevant molecules (including protein toxins, small molecule drugs, RNAi, plasmids, peptides, and imaging agents) directly to target cells. A key differentiating feature of Vaxiion’s platforms versus most other targeted nanodelivery platforms or antibody-drug conjugates is the ability to promote endosomal escape, thereby resulting in significantly enhanced efficacy of the therapeutic payload.