ORCA Therapeutics announces Grant of European Patent covering its proprietary T1 oncolytic adenovirus technology

July 04, 2011

Amsterdam, The Netherlands – July 4th, 2011 – ORCA Therapeutics BV, a pioneer in the development of innovative virotherapies for treatment of cancer, announces today that it has secured key intellectual property rights for its T1 oncolytic adenovirus technology. The European Patent Office granted a core patent (EP2137301 B1) entitled “Adenovirus with mutations in the endoplasmic reticulum retention domain of the E3-19K protein and their use in cancer treatment”. The claims broadly cover oncolytic adenoviruses based on the T1 technology displaying improved potency to kill cancer cells.

Besides the granted European patent, several other corresponding national patent applications are currently processed worldwide. In 2009, ORCA Therapeutics entered a license agreement with VCN Biosciences and acquired the world wide rights on the T1 technology, which also includes the right to sublicense. The T1 technology forms the basis for ORCA’s highly potent lead product ORCA-010 that is being developed for prostate cancer. With the newly granted European patent, protection is now secured in one of the world’s largest markets.

T1 technology

Oncolytic adenoviruses represent a promising new departure for treatment of cancer. These viruses can destroy cancer cells while leaving normal cells undisturbed, thereby minimizing side effects. Owing to their ability to self-replicate within the cancer cell, oncolytic adenoviruses have unique pharmacokinetic properties that set them apart from conventional small molecule or monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics. The T1 technology provides a novel mechanism to increase the release of adenoviruses from infected tumor cells. A team led by Dr Ramon Alemany and Dr Manel Cascallo from the Catalan Institute of Oncology identified a unique mutation in the endoplasmic reticulum retention domain of the adenovirus E3/19K protein (445A mutation). This mutation causes enhanced oncolytic potency in human tumors and cancer-associated fibroblasts in vitro and enhanced anti-tumor activity when injected intra-tumorally or systemically in different cancer models in vivo (Gros et al., Cancer Research 68:8928–37).

About ORCA Therapeutics

ORCA Therapeutics BV is a biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of innovative anticancer therapies based on the highly promising approach of Oncolytic Replication Competent Agents (ORCA). ORCA Therapeutics’ technology and IP portfolio originates from the research performed at the Department of Medical Oncology at the VU University Medical Center (VUmc) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company has a platform of technologies that are predominantly based on highly engineered oncolytic adenoviruses. ORCA Therapeutics is currently preparing its lead product ORCA-010 for testing in clinical trials.

For more information, please contact:

ORCA Therapeutics BV
Janneke Meulenberg, CEO
+31-204441826
meulenberg@orca-therapeutics.com
www.orca-therapeutics.com