IP Library Granted Patent US 12,516,116
Granted Patent B2
US 12,516,116 · App. 17/934,348 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Homodimeric protein constructs

Inventors: Pier Adelchi Ruffini (Milan, IT); Bjarne Bogen (Snaroya, NO); Agnete Brunsvik Fredriksen (Raelingen, NO)
Assignee: Nykode Therapeutics ASA
C07K16/28A61K39/0011A61K39/001157A61K39/00119A61K39/001194A61K39/12A61K39/145C07K16/44A61K2039/53A61K2039/54A61K2039/6031A61K2039/6056C07K2317/526C07K2317/53C07K2317/622C07K2317/64C07K2319/30C07K2319/33C07K2319/40C07K2319/42C12N2760/16111C12N2760/16134
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,516,116
App. No.
17/934,348
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to novel recombinant fusion proteins, such as human antibody-based molecules called Vaccibodies, which are able to trigger both a T cell- and B cell immune response. The present invention also relates to a method of treating a cancer or an infectious disease by means of these specific fusion proteins.

Claims (33)

1 . A vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a monomeric protein,

wherein the monomeric protein forms a homodimeric protein of two identical amino acid chains,

wherein each amino acid chain comprises:

a) a targeting unit comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 98% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in positions 5-70 of SEQ ID NO: 1;

b) and an antigenic unit,

wherein the targeting unit and the antigenic unit are connected through a dimerization motif and

wherein said homodimeric protein provides MHC class I cross-presentation to CD8+ T cells, and is capable of eliciting an immune response against said antigenic unit.

2 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein said vector is an expression vector.

3 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is a DNA molecule.

4 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein the antigenic unit is derived from a bacterium, from a virus, from a HIV antigen or from a HPV antigen.

5 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein the antigenic unit is selected from the group consisting of:

a) a bacterial antigen selected from the list consisting of a tuberculosis antigen and a brucellosis antigen;

b) a viral antigen selected from the list consisting of influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA), nucleoprotein, M2 antigen and Herpes simplex 2 antigen glycoprotein D;

c) a HIV antigen selected from the list consisting of gp120 and Gag; and

d) a human papilloma virus antigen selected from the list consisting of E1, E2, E6, E7, L1 and L2.

6 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein the antigenic unit comprises a cancer associated antigen or a cancer specific antigen.

7 . The vector of claim 6 , wherein said cancer associated antigen is overexpressed on the surface of a cancer cell.

8 . The vector of claim 6 , wherein said cancer associated or cancer specific antigen is selected from the group consisting of melanoma antigen, prostate cancer antigen, HPV antigen, cervix cancer antigen and idiotypic antigen.

9 . The vector of claim 6 , wherein said cancer associated or cancer specific antigen is a cancer associated or cancer specific antigen selected from:

a) telomerase hTERT;

b) a melanoma antigen selected from the list consisting of tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2;

c) prostate cancer antigen PSA;

d) a cervix cancer antigen selected from the list consisting of human papilloma virus E1, E2, E4, E6, and E7; and

e) fragments of antibodies, wherein the fragments are the C-terminal scFv derived from the monoclonal Ig produced by myeloma or lymphoma cells, also called the myeloma/lymphoma M component in patients with B cell lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

10 . The vector of claim 3 , wherein the dimerization motif comprises a hinge region and an immunoglobulin domain, which are connected through a linker.

11 . The vector of claim 1 , wherein the targeting unit consists of the amino acid sequence set forth in positions 5-70 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

12 . The vector of claim 11 , wherein said vector is an expression vector.

13 . The vector of claim 11 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule is a DNA molecule.

14 . The vector of claim 11 , wherein the antigenic unit is derived from a bacterium, from a virus, from a HIV antigen or from a HPV antigen.

15 . The vector of claim 11 , wherein the antigenic unit comprises a cancer associated antigen or a cancer specific antigen.

16 . The vector of claim 13 , wherein the dimerization motif consists of hinge exons h1 and h4 connected through a linker to a CH3 domain of human IgG3.

17 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically compatible carrier.

18 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector of claim 11 and a pharmaceutically compatible carrier.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2025
From: RUFFINI, PIER ADELCHI; BOGEN, BJARNE; FREDRIKSEN, AGNETE BRUNSVIK
To: VACCIBODY AS
Reel/Frame 072357/0518 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2025
From: RUFFINI, PIER ADELCHI; BOGEN, BJARNE; FREDRIKSEN, AGNETE BRUNSVIK
To: VACCIBODY AS
Reel/Frame 072357/0602 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 24, 2025
From: VACCIBODY AS
To: NYKODE THERAPEUTICS AS
Reel/Frame 072926/0210 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 24, 2025
From: NYKODE THERAPEUTICS AS
To: NYKODE THERAPEUTICS ASA
Reel/Frame 073428/0673 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 10167291 · Jun 25, 2010 · regional
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16784778 · Feb 7, 2020
Division 13805709
Provisional Application 61358513 · Jun 25, 2010
Related Publication 20230065226A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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