Using mRNA to Teach the Body to Fight Prostate Cancer

This patent describes an active composition, often a vaccine, that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct a mammal's cells to produce specific prostate cancer proteins, thereby training the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells.

What it covers

The patent describes an "active (immunostimulatory) composition" designed to treat prostate cancer. This composition contains at least one RNA, specifically an mRNA, that carries instructions for making specific prostate cancer proteins, called antigens. For example, Claim 1 describes an isolated mRNA encoding Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). When this mRNA is introduced into a mammal, the body's cells use these instructions to produce the PSA protein. The immune system then recognizes this PSA protein as foreign and learns to attack cells that produce it, such as prostate cancer cells. Claim 16 further describes a composition with at least two different RNAs: one for PSA and another for a different prostate cancer antigen like PSMA, PSCA, or STEAP. This combination aims to create a stronger, more targeted immune response against the cancer.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover treatments for prostate cancer that do not involve an mRNA-based immunostimulatory composition.
• —Does not cover mRNA compositions encoding only a single antigen other than PSA (e.g., an mRNA encoding only PSMA without PSA, as per Claim 16).
• —Does not cover compositions using DNA or other types of RNA (like siRNA or tRNA) to stimulate an immune response.
• —Does not cover mRNA compositions that encode antigens not selected from PSA, PSMA, PSCA, or STEAP for prostate cancer treatment.
• —Does not cover methods of treatment that do not involve administering an effective amount of the specified mRNA or composition.

The clever bit

The clever bit is using mRNA to deliver instructions for multiple specific prostate cancer antigens (like PSA and PSMA) simultaneously. This multi-antigen approach aims to make the immune response broader and more effective, reducing the chance of cancer cells escaping detection by changing just one antigen.

Why it matters

This patent is significant because it applies mRNA technology, which gained prominence with COVID-19 vaccines, to cancer treatment. Prostate cancer is a common cancer, and current treatments can have side effects. An mRNA-based approach aims to train the body's own immune system to specifically target and destroy cancer cells, potentially offering a more precise and less toxic treatment option. CureVac SE, the assignee, is a key player in mRNA therapeutics, and this patent highlights their work in oncology.

Real-world examples

• 1.Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates
• 2.BioNTech's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates
• 3.CureVac's own mRNA therapeutic programs
• 4.Other experimental mRNA-based immunotherapies for various cancers