Targeting Bad Cells with Toxic Antibodies for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease
This patent describes special antibodies equipped with a toxic payload that specifically seek out and bind to unique markers on diseased cells, like cancer or autoimmune cells, to destroy them.
Original patent title: “Aberrant cell-restricted immunoglobulins provided with a toxic moiety”
This patent describes special antibodies equipped with a toxic payload that specifically seek out and bind to unique markers on diseased cells, like cancer or autoimmune cells, to destroy them. Owned by Apo T BV with 23 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a specialized antibody, called an immunoglobulin, that carries a toxic substance, or 'toxic moiety' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This antibody is designed to specifically attach to a unique flag, an 'MHC-peptide complex,' that is found mostly on 'aberrant cells' – which are diseased cells like cancer or those involved in autoimmune conditions (Claim 1). The toxic substance can be chemically attached to the antibody or even built into it at the genetic level as a 'fusion protein' (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 6, 7). The goal is to deliver this toxic payload directly to the aberrant cells, potentially even getting the toxin inside them (Claim 10), to treat diseases like cancer (Claim 11). For example, an antibody could be engineered to find a specific MHC-peptide complex on a melanoma cell, then deliver a cell-killing drug directly to that cell.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that do not have a toxic moiety attached to them.
- Does not cover toxic therapies where the toxic agent is not specifically delivered by an immunoglobulin.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that target cells by binding to something other than an MHC-peptide complex.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that bind to MHC-peptide complexes that are equally common on both healthy and diseased cells.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that target aberrant cells but are not specifically designed to bind to an MHC-peptide complex.
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 precisely targeting 'aberrant cells' using an immunoglobulin that binds to an 'MHC-peptide complex' that is *preferentially* found on these diseased cells, and then delivering a 'toxic moiety' directly to them. This allows for highly specific destruction of harmful cells while sparing healthy ones.
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
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in cancer therapy
Targeted immunotherapies for specific tumor types
Experimental treatments for autoimmune diseases using targeted cell depletion
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology aims to create highly targeted therapies for serious diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders. By specifically delivering a toxic payload to aberrant cells, it seeks to minimize harm to healthy tissues, potentially reducing severe side effects often associated with traditional treatments like chemotherapy. This precision targeting could lead to more effective and safer treatment options for patients.
Filed
January 11, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Apo T BV, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively working in this area, focusing on developing targeted therapies. The broader field of targeted drug delivery, particularly Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), is a major focus for many large pharmaceutical companies like Genentech (Roche), Seagen (Pfizer), and AstraZeneca, as well as numerous biotech startups. These companies are continuously exploring new ways to precisely deliver therapeutic agents to diseased cells.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing field of precision medicine, aiming to create therapies with fewer side effects and higher efficacy. If successful, such technologies could lead to new classes of drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases, potentially shifting treatment paradigms towards more targeted interventions. It could also spur further research into identifying novel MHC-peptide complexes unique to various aberrant cell types, expanding the range of treatable conditions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a specialized antibody, called an immunoglobulin, that carries a toxic substance, or 'toxic moiety' (Claim 1). This antibody is designed to specifically attach to a unique flag, an 'MHC-peptide complex,' that is found mostly on 'aberrant cells' – which are diseased cells like cancer or those involved in autoimmune conditions (Claim 1). The toxic substance can be chemically attached to the antibody or even built into it at the genetic level as a 'fusion protein' (Claims 6, 7). The goal is to deliver this toxic payload directly to the aberrant cells, potentially even getting the toxin inside them (Claim 10), to treat diseases like cancer (Claim 11). For example, an antibody could be engineered to find a specific MHC-peptide complex on a melanoma cell, then deliver a cell-killing drug directly to that cell.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in precisely targeting 'aberrant cells' using an immunoglobulin that binds to an 'MHC-peptide complex' that is *preferentially* found on these diseased cells, and then delivering a 'toxic moiety' directly to them. This allows for highly specific destruction of harmful cells while sparing healthy ones.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that do not have a toxic moiety attached to them.
- Does not cover toxic therapies where the toxic agent is not specifically delivered by an immunoglobulin.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that target cells by binding to something other than an MHC-peptide complex.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that bind to MHC-peptide complexes that are equally common on both healthy and diseased cells.
- Does not cover immunoglobulins that target aberrant cells but are not specifically designed to bind to an MHC-peptide complex.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
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
$59K – $187K
Midpoint $117K · 14.5 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
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Willemsen, R. A., Renes, J., & Steverink, P. J. Targeting Bad Cells with Toxic Antibodies for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease (U.S. Patent No. 20,210,205,465). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20210205465/aberrant-cell-restricted-immunoglobulins-provided-with-a-toxic-moiety
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 Targeting Bad Cells with Toxic Antibodies for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease cover?
This patent describes special antibodies equipped with a toxic payload that specifically seek out and bind to unique markers on diseased cells, like cancer or autoimmune cells, to destroy them.
Who owns patent US 20210205465?
This patent is owned by Apo T BV.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 11, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology aims to create highly targeted therapies for serious diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders. By specifically delivering a toxic payload to aberrant cells, it seeks to minimize harm to healthy tissues, potentially reducing severe side effects often associated with traditional treatments like chemotherapy. This precision targeting could lead to more effective and safer treatment options for patients.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover immunoglobulins that do not have a toxic moiety attached to them.
Patent monitoring