Universal Cells to Grow Cancer-Fighting Immune Cells
This patent describes special 'universal' cells called K562 UAPCs that can help grow large numbers of immune cells to fight diseases like cancer.
Original patent title: “K562 universal antigen presenting cells and uses thereof”
This patent describes special 'universal' cells called K562 UAPCs that can help grow large numbers of immune cells to fight diseases like cancer. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent provides 'universal antigen presenting cells' (UAPCs) derived from K562 cells. These UAPCs are designed to stimulate and expand immune cells, such as T-cells, outside the body. By presenting specific signals, these UAPCs encourage immune cells to multiply rapidly. Once expanded, these larger quantities of immune cells can be used as a treatment, for example, to target and destroy cancer cells in a patient. The 'universal' aspect suggests these cells can be used for many different patients without needing specific genetic matching.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antigen-presenting cells that require specific HLA matching for each patient, as the patent focuses on 'universal' cells.
- Does not cover methods of treating disease that do not involve expanding immune cells, as the core mechanism is immune cell proliferation.
- Does not cover immune cell expansion methods that do not use K562-derived universal antigen presenting cells.
- Does not cover the K562 cell line itself, but rather its specific modification and use as a universal 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 clever part is creating 'universal' antigen-presenting cells from K562 cells. These modified cells can stimulate a patient's immune cells to grow and activate without needing to be genetically matched to the patient, which is a major hurdle in many current cell therapies.
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
CAR T-cell therapy manufacturing
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy development
Research into off-the-shelf cell therapies
Ex vivo expansion of T-cells for adoptive cell transfer
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important because it offers a way to produce large numbers of potent immune cells for therapies, especially for cancer. Current cell therapies often require complex, patient-specific manufacturing. Universal cells could simplify this process, making these advanced treatments more accessible and potentially more affordable for a wider range of patients.
Filed
February 21, 2019
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major pharmaceutical and biotech companies are actively developing cell therapies, particularly for cancer. Companies like Novartis, Gilead Sciences (through Kite Pharma), Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson are investing heavily in technologies that involve expanding and engineering immune cells for therapeutic use. Startups focused on 'off-the-shelf' allogeneic cell therapies are also highly relevant.
Market impact
The development of universal antigen-presenting cells could significantly impact the cell therapy market by streamlining the manufacturing process. By reducing the need for patient-specific cell sources and complex matching, it could lower production costs and shorten treatment timelines. This could enable broader adoption of advanced immunotherapies, potentially making them available to more patients globally.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent provides 'universal antigen presenting cells' (UAPCs) derived from K562 cells. These UAPCs are designed to stimulate and expand immune cells, such as T-cells, outside the body. By presenting specific signals, these UAPCs encourage immune cells to multiply rapidly. Once expanded, these larger quantities of immune cells can be used as a treatment, for example, to target and destroy cancer cells in a patient. The 'universal' aspect suggests these cells can be used for many different patients without needing specific genetic matching.
The clever bit
The clever part is creating 'universal' antigen-presenting cells from K562 cells. These modified cells can stimulate a patient's immune cells to grow and activate without needing to be genetically matched to the patient, which is a major hurdle in many current cell therapies.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antigen-presenting cells that require specific HLA matching for each patient, as the patent focuses on 'universal' cells.
- Does not cover methods of treating disease that do not involve expanding immune cells, as the core mechanism is immune cell proliferation.
- Does not cover immune cell expansion methods that do not use K562-derived universal antigen presenting cells.
- Does not cover the K562 cell line itself, but rather its specific modification and use as a universal antigen-presenting cell.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow 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
$36K – $115K
Midpoint $72K · 12.4 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
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Universal Cells to Grow Cancer-Fighting Immune Cells (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,239). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734239/k562-universal-antigen-presenting-cells-and-uses-thereof
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 Universal Cells to Grow Cancer-Fighting Immune Cells cover?
This patent describes special 'universal' cells called K562 UAPCs that can help grow large numbers of immune cells to fight diseases like cancer.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important because it offers a way to produce large numbers of potent immune cells for therapies, especially for cancer. Current cell therapies often require complex, patient-specific manufacturing. Universal cells could simplify this process, making these advanced treatments more accessible and potentially more affordable for a wider range of patients.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antigen-presenting cells that require specific HLA matching for each patient, as the patent focuses on 'universal' cells.
Patent monitoring