IP Library Granted Patent US 12708643
Granted Patent B2
US 12708643 · App. 16/966,422 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Treatment using cytokine encoding RNA

Inventors: Ugur Sahin (Mainz, DE); Lena Kranz (Mainz, DE); Mathias Vormehr (Mainz, DE); Mustafa Diken (Mainz, DE); Sebastian Kreiter (Mainz, DE); Bodo Tillmann (Mainz, DE)
Assignees: BioNTech SE; TRON—Translationale Onkologie an der Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz gemeinnützige GmbH
A61K31/7105A61K40/11A61K40/22A61K40/42A61K40/46C07K14/5418C07K14/55A61K2039/505A61K2039/53C07K16/2818C07K16/2827C07K2319/30C07K2319/31
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12708643
App. No.
16/966,422
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for inducing an immune response in a subject comprising co-administering to the subject RNA encoding peptides or proteins used for vaccination and RNA encoding IL-2 attached to a pharmacokinetic modifying group and/or RNA encoding IL-7 attached to a pharmacokinetic modifying group. The vaccine is particularly effective if an immune checkpoint inhibitor such as an anti-PD-L1 antibody is further administered. The present disclosure further relates to methods involving the target-specific delivery of a cytokine to a target organ or target tissue.

Claims (41)

1 . A method for inducing an immune response against an antigen in a subject comprising administering to the subject:

a. RNA encoding IL-2 attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of serum albumin, an immunoglobulin Fc domain, transferrin, and Fn3 (extended pharmacokinetic (PK) IL-2) and RNA encoding extended IL-7 attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of serum albumin, an immunoglobulin Fc domain, transferrin, and Fn3 (extended pharmacokinetic (PK) IL-7); and

b. RNA encoding a peptide or protein comprising an epitope for inducing said immune response against said antigen in said subject.

2 . A medical preparation comprising:

a. RNA encoding IL-2 attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of serum albumin, an immunoglobulin Fc domain, transferrin, and Fn3 (extended-pharmacokinetic (PK) IL-2) and RNA encoding IL-7 attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of serum albumin, an immunoglobulin Fc domain, transferrin, and Fn3 (extended-pharmacokinetic (PK) IL-7); and

b. RNA encoding a peptide or protein comprising an epitope for inducing an immune response against an antigen in a subject.

3 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 is mouse serum albumin or human serum albumin.

4 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , further comprising:

c. an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1.

5 . The medical preparation of claim 4 , wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is an antibody or antibody fragment that targets PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4.

6 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , which is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the RNAs.

7 . The medical preparation of claim 6 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents and/or excipients.

8 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the RNA encoding extended-PK IL-2, or the RNA encoding extended-PK IL-7, or both the RNA encoding extended-PK IL-2 and the RNA encoding extended-PK IL-7 is present in a form selected from a liquid form, a solid form, or a combination thereof.

9 . The medical preparation of claim 8 , wherein the solid form is a frozen form or a dehydrated form.

10 . The medical preparation of claim 9 , wherein the dehydrated form is a freeze-dried or spray-dried form.

11 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein each respective moiety is mouse serum albumin or human serum albumin.

12 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 is human IL-2.

13 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 is human IL-7.

14 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 is human IL-2 and the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 is human IL-7.

15 . The medical preparation of claim 14 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 is serum albumin and the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 is serum albumin.

16 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

17 . The medical preparation of claim 16 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.

18 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

19 . The medical preparation of claim 18 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.

20 . The medical preparation of claim 2 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

21 . The medical preparation of claim 20 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5 and the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.

22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 is mouse serum albumin or human serum albumin.

23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject:

c. an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is an antibody or antibody fragment that targets PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each respective moiety is mouse serum albumin or human serum albumin.

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 is human IL-2.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 is human IL-7.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 is human IL-2 and the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 is human IL-7.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 is serum albumin and the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 is serum albumin.

30 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.

32 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.

34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the IL-2 of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the IL-7 of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the moiety of the extended-PK IL-2 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5 and the moiety of the extended-PK IL-7 comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5.