# Using Two Specific RNAs to Teach the Body to Fight Lung Cancer > This patent describes an active composition containing two specific messenger RNAs, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, designed to stimulate an immune response in a mammal to treat lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancers. - **Patent:** US 20220096616 - **Original title:** Composition for treating lung cancer, particularly of non-small lung cancers (nsclc) - **Owner:** Curevac AG - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 7 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, gene_editing, oncology ## What it does The patent claims an "immunostimulatory composition" (Claim 25) that includes two specific RNA molecules. The first RNA carries instructions for making a protein called NY-ESO-1, and the second RNA carries instructions for making MAGE-A3. These proteins are known as antigens because they can trigger an immune response. The idea is that when these RNAs are introduced into the body, cells will produce these specific tumor proteins, teaching the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells that also have these proteins. The RNAs can also have special parts like 5' and 3' UTR sequences, a Poly-A sequence, and a 5' Cap (Claims 26-29) to make them more stable and effective. They can also be combined with "cationic compounds" like lipids or peptides (Claims 30-32) to help them get into cells. For example, a doctor might administer this composition to a patient with non-small cell lung cancer to help their body fight the disease by stimulating an anti-tumor immune response (Claim 43). ## What it does NOT cover - Compositions that do not include both a first RNA encoding NY-ESO-1 and a second RNA encoding MAGE-A3 as core components (Claim 25). - Immunotherapies that rely on DNA or protein-based vaccines instead of RNA molecules (Claims consistently specify "RNA" and "mRNA"). - Compositions where the coding regions of the NY-ESO-1 or MAGE-A3 RNAs are not at least 85% identical to the specified sequences (SEQ ID NO: 21 and SEQ ID NO: 17, respectively), particularly if G/C content is increased (Claims 34, 38). - Methods of treating cancer that do not involve stimulating an anti-tumor immune response in the subject (Claim 43). - Compositions using entirely different tumor antigens as the primary active ingredients, without including NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in combining two specific tumor antigens, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, within an RNA-based immunostimulatory composition. The patent also highlights optimizing the RNA's G/C content (Claims 33-39) to potentially improve its stability and how much protein it produces, making the immune response stronger. ## Real-world examples 1. CureVac's ongoing research into mRNA cancer vaccines 2. Moderna's mRNA-based oncology clinical trials 3. BioNTech's mRNA cancer immunotherapy programs 4. Other experimental mRNA-based immunotherapies for solid tumors ## Why it matters Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths, and current treatments often have significant side effects. This patent explores a targeted approach using messenger RNA (mRNA) to train the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This type of immunotherapy, particularly mRNA-based vaccines, represents a significant area of research for treating various cancers, offering the potential for more precise and less toxic therapies. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Using Two Specific RNAs to Teach the Body to Fight Lung Cancer cover? This patent describes an active composition containing two specific messenger RNAs, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, designed to stimulate an immune response in a mammal to treat lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancers. ### Who owns patent US 20220096616? This patent is owned by Curevac AG. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on July 19, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 20220096616 cited by? This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths, and current treatments often have significant side effects. This patent explores a targeted approach using messenger RNA (mRNA) to train the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. This type of immunotherapy, particularly mRNA-based vaccines, represents a significant area of research for treating various cancers, offering the potential for more precise and less toxic therapies. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Compositions that do not include both a first RNA encoding NY-ESO-1 and a second RNA encoding MAGE-A3 as core components (Claim 25). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220096616/composition-for-treating-lung-cancer-particularly-of-non-small-lung-cancers-nscl **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20220096616 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160168227/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. - [Using mRNA to Teach the Body to Fight Prostate Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12048738/composition-for-treating-prostate-cancer-pca) — 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. - [How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160166668/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-prostate-cancer) — This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer. - [Using Specific Immune Cells to Fight Cancers Like Lung and Breast Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11407807/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-tu) — This patent describes a method to treat specific cancers, including lung, breast, and ovarian cancer, by giving patients their own immune cells (T cells) that have been trained to recognize and destroy cancer cells presenting a unique protein fragment. - [How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10314897/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-ca) — This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells.