Making Cancer-Fighting Antibody Drugs Safer with Precise Attachment
This patent describes a specific way to build antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment by precisely attaching chemotherapy drugs to antibodies to make them safer inside the body.
Original patent title: “Anthracycline-based antibody drug conjugates having high in vivo tolerability”
This patent describes a specific way to build antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment by precisely attaching chemotherapy drugs to antibodies to make them safer inside the body. Granted to NBE Therapeutics AG in 2024 with 20 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2040.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) designed to deliver chemotherapy more safely. It combines an antibody (or a fragment of one) with an anthracycline-based small molecule, which is a type of chemotherapy drug (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The key is how they are linked: the small molecule is *exclusively* attached to the C-terminus of the antibody's light chain constant region (Claim 1). This attachment uses a linker that includes a peptidic sequence, often formed after a sortase enzyme cleaves a recognition motif (Claim 3, 9). For example, the patent specifies that two anthracycline molecules are linked, one to each light chain C-terminus (Claim 1), ensuring a precise drug-to-antibody ratio. This design aims for improved tolerability in the body, particularly for treating neoplastic diseases like breast cancer (Claim 10, 11).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- ADCs where the drug is attached to parts of the antibody other than the light chain constant region C-terminus (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- ADCs that use chemotherapy drugs *not* based on anthracycline (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, "anthracycline-based small molecule").
- ADCs where the drug is linked via a method that does not involve a sortase enzyme or a peptidic sequence linker (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 3, 9).
- ADCs with a drug-to-antibody ratio different from 1 or 2, specifically if there are more than two anthracycline-based small molecules per antibody (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, "two light chain constant region C-termini and two anthracycline-based small molecules").
- ADCs where the linker does not comprise a peptidic sequence (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
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 the highly specific and controlled attachment of the anthracycline-based chemotherapy drug. By exclusively linking the drug to the light chain constant region C-terminus using a sortase-mediated conjugation, the patent ensures a precise drug-to-antibody ratio (specifically two drugs per antibody) and a stable connection, which is crucial for improving the drug's safety and effectiveness in the body.
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
NBE Therapeutics' own ADC candidates
Targeted cancer therapies for solid tumors
Next-generation antibody-drug conjugates
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a major advancement in cancer treatment, acting like "guided missiles" to deliver potent chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. However, ensuring these drugs are stable and well-tolerated in the body is critical. This patent addresses the tolerability challenge by defining a precise and controlled way to attach the chemotherapy drug, potentially leading to fewer side effects for patients.
Filed
July 10, 2020
Granted
October 22, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
NBE Therapeutics AG, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim, which continues to advance ADC technology. Major pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca, Seagen (now part of Pfizer), and Daiichi Sankyo are also heavily invested in ADC development, exploring various linking technologies and drug payloads to improve cancer treatment.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology, a rapidly growing segment of the oncology market. By focusing on improved *in vivo* tolerability through precise drug attachment, it aims to enable the development of safer and more effective cancer treatments. Such advancements can lead to new product candidates with better therapeutic windows, potentially expanding the treatable patient population and increasing market share for companies that successfully implement these technologies.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) designed to deliver chemotherapy more safely. It combines an antibody (or a fragment of one) with an anthracycline-based small molecule, which is a type of chemotherapy drug (Claim 1). The key is how they are linked: the small molecule is *exclusively* attached to the C-terminus of the antibody's light chain constant region (Claim 1). This attachment uses a linker that includes a peptidic sequence, often formed after a sortase enzyme cleaves a recognition motif (Claim 3, 9). For example, the patent specifies that two anthracycline molecules are linked, one to each light chain C-terminus (Claim 1), ensuring a precise drug-to-antibody ratio. This design aims for improved tolerability in the body, particularly for treating neoplastic diseases like breast cancer (Claim 10, 11).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the highly specific and controlled attachment of the anthracycline-based chemotherapy drug. By exclusively linking the drug to the light chain constant region C-terminus using a sortase-mediated conjugation, the patent ensures a precise drug-to-antibody ratio (specifically two drugs per antibody) and a stable connection, which is crucial for improving the drug's safety and effectiveness in the body.
What it does not cover
- ADCs where the drug is attached to parts of the antibody other than the light chain constant region C-terminus (Claim 1).
- ADCs that use chemotherapy drugs *not* based on anthracycline (Claim 1, "anthracycline-based small molecule").
- ADCs where the drug is linked via a method that does not involve a sortase enzyme or a peptidic sequence linker (Claim 1, 3, 9).
- ADCs with a drug-to-antibody ratio different from 1 or 2, specifically if there are more than two anthracycline-based small molecules per antibody (Claim 1, "two light chain constant region C-termini and two anthracycline-based small molecules").
- ADCs where the linker does not comprise a peptidic sequence (Claim 1).
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
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
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
$88K – $281K
Midpoint $176K · 14.0 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
20 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Beerli, R., GEBLEUX, R., & Grawunder, U. (2024). Making Cancer-Fighting Antibody Drugs Safer with Precise Attachment (U.S. Patent No. 12,121,527). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12121527/anthracycline-based-antibody-drug-conjugates-having-high-in-vivo-tolerability
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Cancer-Fighting Antibody Drugs Safer with Precise Attachment cover?
This patent describes a specific way to build antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for cancer treatment by precisely attaching chemotherapy drugs to antibodies to make them safer inside the body.
Who owns patent US 12121527?
NBE Therapeutics AG owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 10, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a major advancement in cancer treatment, acting like "guided missiles" to deliver potent chemotherapy directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. However, ensuring these drugs are stable and well-tolerated in the body is critical. This patent addresses the tolerability challenge by defining a precise and controlled way to attach the chemotherapy drug, potentially leading to fewer side effects for patients.
What does this patent NOT cover?
ADCs where the drug is attached to parts of the antibody other than the light chain constant region C-terminus (Claim 1).
Patent monitoring