How Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer
This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer.
Original patent title: “Use of chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells to treat cancer”
This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer. Granted to University of Pennsylvania Penn in 2016 with 16 claims and 65 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2033.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a pharmaceutical composition containing human T cells that have been genetically modified. These T cells are engineered to produce a special protein on their surface called a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR). This CAR is designed with several key parts: a 'CD19 antigen binding domain' that acts like a hook to specifically grab onto CD19 proteins found on certain cancer cells, a 'transmembrane domain' that anchors the CAR to the T cell's surface, a '4-1BB costimulatory signaling region' that helps activate the T cell, and a 'CD3 zeta signaling domain' (specifically using the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24) which is crucial for the T cell to launch its attack. When these modified T cells are given to a human with cancer, they are designed to find and destroy cancer cells expressing CD19. For example, a patient with a type of leukemia or lymphoma that has CD19-positive cancer cells could receive these specially prepared T cells to fight their disease.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- CAR T-cell therapies that target cancer cells expressing antigens other than CD19.
- CAR T-cell therapies that use a costimulatory signaling region different from 4-1BB.
- CAR T-cell therapies where the CD3 zeta signaling domain does not match the specific amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
- T-cell therapies that are not genetically modified to express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR).
- CAR T-cell therapies intended for uses other than treating cancer in a human.
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 the specific combination of a CD19-targeting domain with both a 4-1BB costimulatory signal and a CD3 zeta signaling domain within a single CAR. This particular arrangement ensures that the engineered T cells not only recognize cancer cells but also receive the necessary 'go' signals to become fully activated, multiply, and persist in the body to effectively fight the tumor.
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
Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) for certain leukemias and lymphomas
Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) for certain lymphomas
Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) for certain lymphomas
Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel) for certain lymphomas
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is foundational to the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a significant advancement in cancer treatment. It details the specific engineering of T cells to target CD19, a marker found on many blood cancers. This technology has led to the creation of 'living drugs' that can achieve deep and lasting remissions in patients with certain types of leukemia and lymphoma who previously had limited options.
Filed
December 16, 2013
Granted
May 3, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The University of Pennsylvania, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a leader in CAR T-cell research and development. Pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, Gilead Sciences (through its Kite Pharma subsidiary), and Bristol Myers Squibb have licensed and developed CAR T-cell therapies based on similar principles. These companies are actively researching new CAR designs and targets for a wider range of cancers.
Market impact
This patent contributed significantly to the emergence of CAR T-cell therapy as a new class of cancer treatment. It helped pave the way for the first FDA approvals of CAR T-cell drugs, creating a multi-billion dollar market for 'living drugs.' This breakthrough has transformed the treatment landscape for certain blood cancers, offering hope to patients with previously untreatable diseases and driving massive investment into cell and gene therapy research and development.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a pharmaceutical composition containing human T cells that have been genetically modified. These T cells are engineered to produce a special protein on their surface called a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR). This CAR is designed with several key parts: a 'CD19 antigen binding domain' that acts like a hook to specifically grab onto CD19 proteins found on certain cancer cells, a 'transmembrane domain' that anchors the CAR to the T cell's surface, a '4-1BB costimulatory signaling region' that helps activate the T cell, and a 'CD3 zeta signaling domain' (specifically using the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24) which is crucial for the T cell to launch its attack. When these modified T cells are given to a human with cancer, they are designed to find and destroy cancer cells expressing CD19. For example, a patient with a type of leukemia or lymphoma that has CD19-positive cancer cells could receive these specially prepared T cells to fight their disease.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination of a CD19-targeting domain with both a 4-1BB costimulatory signal and a CD3 zeta signaling domain within a single CAR. This particular arrangement ensures that the engineered T cells not only recognize cancer cells but also receive the necessary 'go' signals to become fully activated, multiply, and persist in the body to effectively fight the tumor.
What it does not cover
- CAR T-cell therapies that target cancer cells expressing antigens other than CD19.
- CAR T-cell therapies that use a costimulatory signaling region different from 4-1BB.
- CAR T-cell therapies where the CD3 zeta signaling domain does not match the specific amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24.
- T-cell therapies that are not genetically modified to express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR).
- CAR T-cell therapies intended for uses other than treating cancer in a human.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
36/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
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
$878K – $2.8M
Midpoint $1.8M · 7.4 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
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kalos, M. D., Milone, M. C., Levine, B. L., June, C. H., & Porter, D. L. (2016). How Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer (U.S. Patent No. 9,328,156). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9328156/use-of-chimeric-antigen-receptor-modified-t-cells-to-treat-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 Genetically Modified T-Cells Attack Cancer cover?
This patent describes how human T cells are genetically engineered to express a special receptor (CAR) that specifically targets and kills cancer cells, particularly those with the CD19 marker, offering a new way to treat cancer.
Who owns patent US 9328156?
University of Pennsylvania Penn owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 16, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9328156 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 65 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is foundational to the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a significant advancement in cancer treatment. It details the specific engineering of T cells to target CD19, a marker found on many blood cancers. This technology has led to the creation of 'living drugs' that can achieve deep and lasting remissions in patients with certain types of leukemia and lymphoma who previously had limited options.
What does this patent NOT cover?
CAR T-cell therapies that target cancer cells expressing antigens other than CD19.
Same assignee
More from University of Pennsylvania Penn
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