Training Immune Cells to Fight Cancer Using Specific Markers
This patent describes a method to create a powerful immune response against cancer by taking a patient's own T cells, teaching them to recognize specific cancer markers outside the body, and then putting them back to kill cancer cells.
Original patent title: “Cell epitopes and combination of cell epitopes for use in the immunotherapy of myeloma and other cancers”
This patent describes a method to create a powerful immune response against cancer by taking a patient's own T cells, teaching them to recognize specific cancer markers outside the body, and then putting them back to kill cancer cells. Granted to Immatics Biotechnologies in 2019 with 26 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method to fight cancer by using specially trained T cells. First, T cells are taken, often from the patient themselves (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 2). These T cells are then "taught" outside the body (Claim 11) to recognize specific small protein pieces, called peptides (SEQ ID NO: 1-5, 7-10), that are found on cancer cells. This teaching happens by exposing the T cells to these peptides presented on special "antigen-presenting cells" (Claim 1) using a human class I MHC molecule. This process activates the T cells. Once activated, these T cells are multiplied (Claim 5) and then given back to the patient (Claim 1) to seek out and destroy cancer cells that display these specific peptides. For example, a patient with lung cancer could have their T cells trained to recognize a lung cancer-specific peptide and then re-infused to attack the tumor.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods where T cells are activated inside the patient's body without ex vivo manipulation.
- Does not cover immunotherapies that do not involve administering activated T cells (e.g., traditional chemotherapy or radiation).
- Does not cover T cell therapies that target cancer cells using different recognition mechanisms, such as CAR T cells which recognize whole proteins, not specific MHC-presented peptides.
- Does not cover methods using peptides other than those specifically listed (SEQ ID NO: 1-5, 7-10) for T cell activation.
- Does not cover methods where the T cells are not activated by a peptide loaded onto a human class I MHC molecule on an antigen-presenting cell.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in precisely defining the specific tumor-associated peptides (SEQ ID NOs) that can be used to activate T cells ex vivo via class I MHC molecules, ensuring these T cells then selectively target a broad range of cancer types. This provides a blueprint for a targeted cellular immunotherapy.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
TCR-T cell therapies
Adoptive cell transfer therapies
Personalized cancer vaccines (in development)
Ex vivo T cell expansion protocols
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it provides a specific method for developing personalized T-cell immunotherapies for various cancers. By identifying and using specific tumor-associated peptides, it aims to make the immune response highly targeted and effective. This approach is part of a broader shift in cancer treatment towards therapies that harness the body's own defenses.
Filed
November 20, 2018
Granted
August 13, 2019
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Immatics Biotechnologies, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing T-cell receptor (TCR) based immunotherapies for various cancers, directly building on this type of technology. Other companies like Adaptimmune, Kite Pharma (a Gilead company), and Novartis are also major players in the broader adoptive cell therapy space, including TCR-T and CAR-T cell therapies, which share the principle of ex vivo T cell manipulation.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the rapidly evolving field of cancer immunotherapy, particularly adoptive cell therapies. It provides a foundational method for developing highly specific T-cell treatments, potentially enabling new drug candidates and clinical trials. The focus on specific tumor-associated peptides helps refine the targeting of these therapies, aiming to improve efficacy and reduce off-target effects.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method to fight cancer by using specially trained T cells. First, T cells are taken, often from the patient themselves (Claim 2). These T cells are then "taught" outside the body (Claim 11) to recognize specific small protein pieces, called peptides (SEQ ID NO: 1-5, 7-10), that are found on cancer cells. This teaching happens by exposing the T cells to these peptides presented on special "antigen-presenting cells" (Claim 1) using a human class I MHC molecule. This process activates the T cells. Once activated, these T cells are multiplied (Claim 5) and then given back to the patient (Claim 1) to seek out and destroy cancer cells that display these specific peptides. For example, a patient with lung cancer could have their T cells trained to recognize a lung cancer-specific peptide and then re-infused to attack the tumor.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in precisely defining the specific tumor-associated peptides (SEQ ID NOs) that can be used to activate T cells ex vivo via class I MHC molecules, ensuring these T cells then selectively target a broad range of cancer types. This provides a blueprint for a targeted cellular immunotherapy.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods where T cells are activated inside the patient's body without ex vivo manipulation.
- Does not cover immunotherapies that do not involve administering activated T cells (e.g., traditional chemotherapy or radiation).
- Does not cover T cell therapies that target cancer cells using different recognition mechanisms, such as CAR T cells which recognize whole proteins, not specific MHC-presented peptides.
- Does not cover methods using peptides other than those specifically listed (SEQ ID NO: 1-5, 7-10) for T cell activation.
- Does not cover methods where the T cells are not activated by a peptide loaded onto a human class I MHC molecule on an antigen-presenting cell.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
17/20
Very broad protection
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$140K – $449K
Midpoint $281K · 12.2 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
26 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kowalewski, D. J., Rammensee, H., STICKEL, J., Walz, S., & Stevanovic, S. (2019). Training Immune Cells to Fight Cancer Using Specific Markers (U.S. Patent No. 10,377,797). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10377797/cell-epitopes-and-combination-of-cell-epitopes-for-use-in-the-immunotherapy-of-m
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US10377797"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 11407807 · 2022 · Immatics Biotechnologies
Using Specific Immune Cells to Fight Cancers Like Lung and Breast Cancer
US 10314897 · 2019 · Immatics Biotechnologies
How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer
US 10364282 · 2019 · Immatics Biotechnologies
Training Immune Cells to Fight Specific Cancers
US 12168044 · 2024 · Immatics Biotechnologies
Treating Liver Cancer with Specially Trained Immune Cells
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Training Immune Cells to Fight Cancer Using Specific Markers cover?
This patent describes a method to create a powerful immune response against cancer by taking a patient's own T cells, teaching them to recognize specific cancer markers outside the body, and then putting them back to kill cancer cells.
Who owns patent US 10377797?
Immatics Biotechnologies owns this patent, granted in 2019.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 20, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10377797 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it provides a specific method for developing personalized T-cell immunotherapies for various cancers. By identifying and using specific tumor-associated peptides, it aims to make the immune response highly targeted and effective. This approach is part of a broader shift in cancer treatment towards therapies that harness the body's own defenses.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods where T cells are activated inside the patient's body without ex vivo manipulation.
Same assignee
More from Immatics Biotechnologies
Patent monitoring