How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight
This patent describes a specific mRNA vaccine designed to treat lung cancer by instructing the body's cells to produce six distinct tumor proteins, thereby training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Original patent title: “Composition and vaccine for treating lung cancer”
This patent describes a specific mRNA vaccine designed to treat lung cancer by instructing the body's cells to produce six distinct tumor proteins, thereby training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Owned by Curevac AG with 52 claims and 80 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2036.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a special recipe, called a composition, for an mRNA vaccine to fight lung cancer. The core idea is to use messenger RNA (mRNA) that carries instructions for making six specific proteins, or 'antigens,' found on lung cancer cells. These antigens are 5T4, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, and MUC1 (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). When this mRNA is introduced into a mammal, like a human, the body's cells read these instructions and produce these cancer-related proteins. This process then teaches the immune system to recognize these proteins as foreign, prompting it to launch an attack against any cells displaying them, which includes lung cancer cells. The patent also details ways to make the mRNA more effective, such as making it more stable (Claim 7), increasing its G/C content (Claim 8), and adding special caps and tails (like a 5' cap and poly(A) and poly(C) tails) to the mRNA molecule (Claim 10) to improve its lifespan and protein production within the body.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover mRNA compositions that encode only some, but not all six, of the specified antigens (5T4, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, and MUC1).
- Does not cover vaccines for lung cancer that use different types of molecules, such as DNA, viral vectors, or protein-based vaccines, instead of mRNA.
- Does not cover compositions designed to treat other types of cancer, as the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specifically mention 'treatment of lung cancer'.
- Does not cover compositions that use a different set of antigens for lung cancer, even if delivered by mRNA.
- Does not cover mRNA that lacks specific stabilizing features like a 5' cap, poly(A) tail, or increased G/C content, as these are claimed modifications.
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 → here lies in the specific combination of six distinct tumor antigens delivered via mRNA, designed to provoke a broad and potent immune attack against lung cancer cells. Additionally, the detailed mRNA modifications for enhanced stability and protein production within the body are crucial for the vaccine's effectiveness.
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
CureVac's ongoing research and development pipeline for mRNA-based cancer therapies
BioNTech's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates
Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates
General field of cancer immunotherapy
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it focuses on using mRNA technology for cancer immunotherapy, a field that has seen tremendous growth. mRNA vaccines, famously used for COVID-19, offer a flexible and rapid way to develop treatments. By targeting a specific combination of antigens, this approach aims to create a highly tailored immune response against lung cancer, which remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. CureVac AG, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a key player in advancing mRNA technology for various therapeutic applications.
Filed
February 19, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
CureVac AG, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a prominent developer of mRNA-based therapeutics, including cancer vaccines. Other major biotechnology companies like BioNTech and Moderna are also heavily invested in developing mRNA cancer vaccines, exploring various antigen combinations and delivery methods to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.
Market impact
The filing of this patent contributes to the broader expansion of mRNA technology into the oncology market. It helps define a specific approach to mRNA cancer vaccines, potentially influencing how competitors design their own multi-antigen mRNA therapies for lung cancer. While not tied to a specific product launch or lawsuit mentioned, it represents a foundational step in developing highly targeted and potentially more effective treatments for a challenging disease, pushing the boundaries of what mRNA technology can achieve beyond infectious diseases.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a special recipe, called a composition, for an mRNA vaccine to fight lung cancer. The core idea is to use messenger RNA (mRNA) that carries instructions for making six specific proteins, or 'antigens,' found on lung cancer cells. These antigens are 5T4, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, and MUC1 (Claim 1). When this mRNA is introduced into a mammal, like a human, the body's cells read these instructions and produce these cancer-related proteins. This process then teaches the immune system to recognize these proteins as foreign, prompting it to launch an attack against any cells displaying them, which includes lung cancer cells. The patent also details ways to make the mRNA more effective, such as making it more stable (Claim 7), increasing its G/C content (Claim 8), and adding special caps and tails (like a 5' cap and poly(A) and poly(C) tails) to the mRNA molecule (Claim 10) to improve its lifespan and protein production within the body.
The clever bit
The novelty here lies in the specific combination of six distinct tumor antigens delivered via mRNA, designed to provoke a broad and potent immune attack against lung cancer cells. Additionally, the detailed mRNA modifications for enhanced stability and protein production within the body are crucial for the vaccine's effectiveness.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover mRNA compositions that encode only some, but not all six, of the specified antigens (5T4, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, and MUC1).
- Does not cover vaccines for lung cancer that use different types of molecules, such as DNA, viral vectors, or protein-based vaccines, instead of mRNA.
- Does not cover compositions designed to treat other types of cancer, as the claims specifically mention 'treatment of lung cancer'.
- Does not cover compositions that use a different set of antigens for lung cancer, even if delivered by mRNA.
- Does not cover mRNA that lacks specific stabilizing features like a 5' cap, poly(A) tail, or increased G/C content, as these are claimed modifications.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
38/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 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
$864K – $2.8M
Midpoint $1.7M · 9.5 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
52 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kallen, K., Gnad-Vogt, U., & Fotin-Mleczek, M. How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight (U.S. Patent No. 20,160,168,227). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160168227/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-lung-cancer
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 How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight cover?
This patent describes a specific mRNA vaccine designed to treat lung cancer by instructing the body's cells to produce six distinct tumor proteins, thereby training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Who owns patent US 20160168227?
This patent is owned by Curevac AG.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 19, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20160168227 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 80 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it focuses on using mRNA technology for cancer immunotherapy, a field that has seen tremendous growth. mRNA vaccines, famously used for COVID-19, offer a flexible and rapid way to develop treatments. By targeting a specific combination of antigens, this approach aims to create a highly tailored immune response against lung cancer, which remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. CureVac AG, the assignee, is a key player in advancing mRNA technology for various therapeutic applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover mRNA compositions that encode only some, but not all six, of the specified antigens (5T4, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, and MUC1).
Patent monitoring