How a Specific Peptide Boosts the Immune System Against Cancer

This patent describes a specific peptide sequence, KESDGFHRF, combined with immune-boosting substances and a safe delivery method, for use in treating cancer through immunotherapy.

What it covers

This patent claims a specific recipe for a cancer treatment. It involves a particular protein fragment, called a peptide, with the exact amino acid sequence KESDGFHRF (Claim 1). This peptide is combined with an 'adjuvant,' which is a substance that helps make the immune response stronger. The patent lists several possible adjuvants, including imiquimod, GM-CSF, and various interleukins like IL-2, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-21 (Claim 2). All these ingredients are mixed into a 'pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,' which is a safe way to deliver the medicine to a patient. For example, a composition could include the KESDGFHRF peptide, IL-2 as the adjuvant (Claim 3), and a buffer for stability (Claim 8), all within a safe liquid carrier for injection.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover cancer immunotherapies that use different peptide sequences than KESDGFHRF.
• —Does not cover the peptide KESDGFHRF when administered without an adjuvant.
• —Does not cover the peptide KESDGFHRF without a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• —Does not cover using only the listed adjuvants without the specific KESDGFHRF peptide.
• —Does not cover non-immunotherapy treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy alone.

The clever bit

The novelty lies in identifying and claiming a very specific nine-amino-acid peptide, KESDGFHRF, as a key component for stimulating an immune response against tumors. The patent then combines this specific peptide with known immune-boosting adjuvants and delivery methods, creating a precise formulation for immunotherapy.

Why it matters

Cancer immunotherapy aims to train a patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This patent contributes to that field by identifying a specific peptide that can potentially act as a target for the immune system. By combining this peptide with adjuvants, the goal is to create a stronger, more focused anti-tumor immune response, offering a new approach to fight various cancers.

Real-world examples

• 1.Experimental cancer vaccines
• 2.T-cell stimulating therapies
• 3.Immunotherapy drug candidates