RNA Instructions for Cancer-Fighting Vaccines
This patent describes specific RNA molecules designed to carry instructions for making proteins found on cancer cells, which can then be used to create vaccines or treatments that teach the body's immune system to fight cancer.
Original patent title: “Rna encoding a tumor antigen”
This patent describes specific RNA molecules designed to carry instructions for making proteins found on cancer cells, which can then be used to create vaccines or treatments that teach the body's immune system to fight cancer. Owned by Curevac SE with 40 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an RNA molecule that contains at least one coding sequence. This coding sequence holds the genetic blueprint for a specific tumor antigen, which is a protein found on cancer cells. ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 2 lists many examples of these tumor antigens, such as Her2/neu or MAGE-A3. The RNA can be an mRNA, a viral RNA, or a replicon RNA (claim 5). To make the RNA more effective, it can be modified, for instance, by increasing its G/C content or adapting its codons to human usage, which helps cells make more of the desired protein without changing the protein itself (claim 7). This specially designed RNA can then be used in compositions, vaccines, or kits to treat or prevent cancer.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover RNA that encodes antigens for infectious diseases like viruses or bacteria, focusing specifically on tumor antigens.
- Does not cover DNA-based vaccines or therapies, as the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → are directed to RNA molecules.
- Does not cover RNA that lacks specific modifications like increased G/C content or codon adaptation for improved expression, if such modifications are claimed as essential features.
- Does not cover protein-based cancer treatments where the protein itself is administered, rather than RNA instructions for making the protein.
- Does not cover RNA encoding tumor antigens not listed in the extensive group provided in claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 2, or variants outside the scope of the claimed fragments or variants.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is the detailed specificationspecificationThe main body of the patent — describes the invention in detail. Used to interpret the claims.Read more → of RNA molecules designed to encode a very specific and extensive list of known tumor antigens, combined with methods to optimize these RNA molecules for better stability and protein production within human cells. This includes strategies like increasing G/C content and adapting codons to human usage, ensuring the body efficiently produces the cancer-fighting proteins.
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
mRNA cancer vaccines in clinical trials
BioNTech's BNT111 (melanoma vaccine)
Moderna's mRNA-4157 (melanoma vaccine)
Curevac's CV8102 (intratumoral RNA immunotherapy)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
RNA-based therapeutics, especially mRNA vaccines, have shown significant promise in recent years. This patent focuses on applying this technology to cancer, a major global health challenge. By providing specific RNA sequences that encode tumor-specific proteins, it aims to develop highly targeted immunotherapies. This approach seeks to harness the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, potentially offering a new way to treat or even prevent various forms of cancer.
Filed
March 13, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Curevac SE, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a prominent biotechnology company actively developing mRNA-based therapeutics, including cancer vaccines. Other major players in this space include BioNTech and Moderna, both of whom have extensive pipelines in mRNA cancer immunotherapy. These companies are investing heavily in research and clinical trials to bring RNA-encoded tumor antigen vaccines to market.
Market impact
The filing of patents like this reflects a significant shift in the pharmaceutical market towards mRNA technology for therapeutic applications beyond infectious diseases. It signals a strong commitment to developing a new class of cancer treatments that could offer advantages over traditional therapies, such as improved specificity and fewer side effects. While still largely in clinical development, successful mRNA cancer vaccines could create entirely new market segments and significantly impact the oncology landscape, potentially leading to new standards of care for various cancers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an RNA molecule that contains at least one coding sequence. This coding sequence holds the genetic blueprint for a specific tumor antigen, which is a protein found on cancer cells. Claim 2 lists many examples of these tumor antigens, such as Her2/neu or MAGE-A3. The RNA can be an mRNA, a viral RNA, or a replicon RNA (claim 5). To make the RNA more effective, it can be modified, for instance, by increasing its G/C content or adapting its codons to human usage, which helps cells make more of the desired protein without changing the protein itself (claim 7). This specially designed RNA can then be used in compositions, vaccines, or kits to treat or prevent cancer.
The clever bit
The clever bit is the detailed specification of RNA molecules designed to encode a very specific and extensive list of known tumor antigens, combined with methods to optimize these RNA molecules for better stability and protein production within human cells. This includes strategies like increasing G/C content and adapting codons to human usage, ensuring the body efficiently produces the cancer-fighting proteins.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover RNA that encodes antigens for infectious diseases like viruses or bacteria, focusing specifically on tumor antigens.
- Does not cover DNA-based vaccines or therapies, as the claims are directed to RNA molecules.
- Does not cover RNA that lacks specific modifications like increased G/C content or codon adaptation for improved expression, if such modifications are claimed as essential features.
- Does not cover protein-based cancer treatments where the protein itself is administered, rather than RNA instructions for making the protein.
- Does not cover RNA encoding tumor antigens not listed in the extensive group provided in claim 2, or variants outside the scope of the claimed fragments or variants.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
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
$72K – $230K
Midpoint $144K · 16.4 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
The original legal language
Original claims
40 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Hoerr, I., & Fotin-Mleczek, M. RNA Instructions for Cancer-Fighting Vaccines (U.S. Patent No. 20,240,075,116). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20240075116/rna-encoding-a-tumor-antigen
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 RNA Instructions for Cancer-Fighting Vaccines cover?
This patent describes specific RNA molecules designed to carry instructions for making proteins found on cancer cells, which can then be used to create vaccines or treatments that teach the body's immune system to fight cancer.
Who owns patent US 20240075116?
This patent is owned by Curevac SE.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 13, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
RNA-based therapeutics, especially mRNA vaccines, have shown significant promise in recent years. This patent focuses on applying this technology to cancer, a major global health challenge. By providing specific RNA sequences that encode tumor-specific proteins, it aims to develop highly targeted immunotherapies. This approach seeks to harness the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, potentially offering a new way to treat or even prevent various forms of cancer.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover RNA that encodes antigens for infectious diseases like viruses or bacteria, focusing specifically on tumor antigens.
Same assignee
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