US Patent Granted For Batu Biologics Cancer Immunotherapeutic Product Immxcyte

Cancer Angiogenesis Immunology Company Granted Composition of Matter Patent on Universal Immune Stimulatory Peptide

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Batu Biologics announced the issuance of United States patent # 8,999,349 covering composition of matter claims for its ImmXcyte^TM immune-oncology peptide technology.

“Given the numerous scientific publications supporting the use of ImmXcyteTM and activators of the TLR-4 pathway as potent stimulators of immunity, we are confident that the issuance of the current patent positions Batu to engage in out-licensing discussions with parties in the space of immunotherapeutics.”

ImmXcyte^TM is a potent stimulator of immune responses, developed by University of California San Diego (UCSD), and exclusively licensed to Batu Biologics.

Peer-reviewed publications by ImmXcyte^TM inventor Dr. Davorka Messmer demonstrated the potency of this peptide drug candidate in activating the immune system to kill tumor cells¹ through stimulation of the fundamental immunoregulatory pathway of the toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4)².

“The issuance of the current patent provides Batu a potent adjuvant that is useful at not only stimulating anticancer immunity in conjunction with our late stage preclinical product, ValloVax, but also an easy-to-manufacture reagent that can be outlicensed to vaccine developers targeting intracellular bacteria or viruses,” said Samuel Wagner, President and CEO of Batu Biologics. “Given the numerous scientific publications supporting the use of ImmXcyte^TM and activators of the TLR-4 pathway as potent stimulators of immunity, we are confident that the issuance of the current patent positions Batu to engage in out-licensing discussions with parties in the space of immunotherapeutics.”

ImmXcyte^TM is derived from the high mobility group box (HMGB1) protein, which is one of the most potent immune stimulatory proteins that exists in the human body. Through years of research, Dr. Messmer, who has joined the Batu Biologics Scientific Advisory Board, discovered the specific portions of the protein that stimulate the immune response without overt side effects.

“The issuance of this patent, combined with our ongoing work in developing ImmXcyte^TM as a therapeutic, has led to development of our second pipeline drug candidate, which may have multiple utilities, not only in the space of oncology, but also in combating bacterial and viral infections,” said Dr. Hong Ma, Chief Scientific Officer of Batu Biologics.

About Batu Biologics

Batu Biologics is a biotechnology-based pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies that target the “Achilles Heel of Cancer”: the tumor blood vessels. Batu’s flagship therapeutic, ValloVax™, is an angiogenesis targeting cancer vaccine in the late stages of preclinical development. Batu Biologics has currently filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND # 16296) for the initial indication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and anticipates clinical approval to begin treating patients in Q3 of 2015.

¹ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25882711
² http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25123824