Technology Transfer

Patent: US 10,925,945
Inventors: Keith Bahjat, Yoshinobu Koguchi, Alejandro F. Alice

The patent claims MEP pathway–deficient Listeria bacterial strains engineered to deliver cancer vaccines. These Listeria strains do not produce HMBPP—a potent γδ T‑cell activator that causes rapid vaccine clearance. Blocking HMBPP production results in slower clearance, prolonged antigen presentation, and sustained inflammation, leading to improved antitumor immune responses with reduced liver toxicity.

Key advantages

• Potent bacterial cancer vaccine platform
• Enhanced duration of antigen presentation and inflammation
• Compatible with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other therapies
• Not limited by HLA class restrictions

Applications

• Cancer immunotherapy vaccines
• Combination immunotherapy regimens
• γδ T cell activation strategies
• Solid tumor vaccine development

Patent: US 12,560,591
Inventors: Kristina Young, Andrew Gunderson

The patent claims methods of predicting response to CD8 T‑cell–mediated therapies, such as aTGFbR1, by measuring changes in CXCR3+ T cells in blood samples shortly after treatment begins. A decrease in circulating CXCR3+ T cells correlates with positive treatment response, while an increase correlates with nonresponse, enabling rapid biomarker-based stratification of patients.

Key advantages

• Rapid prediction of responders vs. nonresponders
• Blood‑based, flow cytometry–readable biomarker
• Single, clinically implementable biomarker
• Potential applicability across multiple tumor types

Applications

• Companion diagnostics for T-cell-mediated therapies such as aTGFbR1
• Precision oncology patient stratification

Patent: US 12,336,973
Inventors: Michael Gough, Marka Crittenden, Tiffany Blair

The patent covers therapeutic methods combining radiation therapy with inhibition of DNAse1L3 to enhance antitumor immune activation, particularly in pancreatic and colorectal cancers. The patent also claims diagnostic assays measuring DNAse1L3 levels to identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment approach and supports combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Key advantages

• Novel radiation plus immunotherapy approach
• Stimulates immune‑mediated tumor destruction
• Biomarker‑guided patient selection
• Compatible with checkpoint blockade therapies

Applications

• Combination therapy of radiation + DNAse1L3 inhibition for treating solid tumors
• Diagnostic assay for personalized oncology treatment selection
• Solid tumor immunotherapy development

Patent: US 12,486,314
Inventors: Hong Ming Hu, Jaina Patel, Catherine Dinh

The patent claims engineered fusion proteins (“Z‑nectins”) that combine an extracellular matrix or integrin‑binding domain with a Protein A Z domain, enabling binding and localization of therapeutic antibodies within the tumor microenvironment.

Key advantages

• Improves antibody retention and reduces rapid clearance
• Modular platform adaptable to diverse therapeutics
• Demonstrated efficacy in animal cancer models
• Supports immune agonists (e.g., GITR, OX40)

Applications

• Antibody drug optimization
• Tumor‑targeted biologic delivery
• Immunotherapy combination platforms

Patent Application: 18/038,071
Inventors: Eric Tran, Yi‑Ping Shih

The patent application describes engineered T cell receptors (TCRs) that specifically recognize peptides derived from the RET M918T oncogenic mutation, presented by HLA molecules. The invention includes nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, and methods supporting development of TCR‑engineered adoptive T cell therapies for RET‑driven cancers.

Key advantages

• High specificity for RET M918T mutation
• Supports scalable biologic manufacturing
• Targets genetically defined cancer populations

Applications

• Precision oncology TCR‑T therapies
• Solid tumor adoptive cell therapy
• Personalized cancer immunotherapy

Patent Application: US 18/726,716
Inventors: Eric Tran, Myungkyu Jang, Timothy Erickson

The patent application describes engineering T cells to express the CD40 receptor, enabling direct costimulatory signaling from CD40 ligand (CD40L) within the tumor microenvironment. By introducing CD40 signaling into T cells, the technology enhances T cell activation, proliferation, persistence, and antitumor efficacy.

Key advantages

• Improves T cell activation and persistence
• Compatible with existing CAR‑T and TCR‑T platforms
• Amplifies immune activation at the tumor site

Applications

• CAR‑T and TCR‑T enhancement
• Solid tumor cell therapy
• Immune‑modulating engineered cells

Patent Application: 19/123,526
Inventors: Keith Bahjat, Marka Crittenden

The patent application describes expansion of γδ T cells in vivo using microbial conditioning agents, followed by targeting with bispecific or trispecific γδ T cell engagers.

Key advantages

• Activates innate immune responses
• Flexible in vivo or ex vivo strategies
• Broad applicability across disease areas

Applications

• γδ T cell cancer therapy
• Infectious disease immunotherapy
• Bispecific engager combinations

Patent Application: PCT/US2024/012616
Inventors: Kristina Young, Alina Krollenbrock, Alejandro Alice

The patent application describes a novel PET tracer comprising an Fc‑fusion fused to the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) binding domain of the TGFβ receptor with a chelator for binding a radiolabel (e.g., Copper‑64)

Key advantages

• Specific TGFβ targeting with extended half‑life Fc fusion design
• Supports PET imaging using radiolabeled tracers

Applications

• Precision oncology imaging
• Immunotherapy patient selection
• TGFβ pathway monitoring

Patent Application: 19/526,120
Inventors: Eric Tran, Myungkyu Jang

The patent application describes engineered IFN‑γ receptors that convert IFN‑γ binding into proliferative or functional signals using heterologous intracellular domains, enhancing immune cell persistence and antitumor efficacy.

Key advantages

• Improves immune cell proliferation and persistence
• Modular signaling design
• Broad applicability to cell‑based cancer therapies

Applications

• Adoptive cell therapy enhancement
• Synthetic immunoreceptor platforms
• Immune cell signal engineering

Patent Application: US 19/112,949
Inventors: Eric Tran, Yi‑Ping Shih

The patent application describes engineered T cell receptors (TCRs) targeting HPV oncogenic proteins (E6/E7) presented by HLA molecules, enabling precision adoptive T cell therapies for HPV‑driven cancers.

Key advantages

• High tumor specificity
• Precision targeting of viral oncogenes
• Clinically translatable TCR platform

Applications

• Cervical cancer immunotherapy
• Head and neck cancer treatment
• Virus‑associated cancer therapies