IP Library Granted Patent US 12,686,709
Granted Patent B2
US 12,686,709 · App. 19/352,098 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

PD-L1 analog fusion proteins for antigen specific immunotherapy and methods of use

Inventors: Todd C. Zion (Salem, MA); Thomas M. Lancaster (Wenham, MA)
Assignee: AKSTON BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
C07K14/70532A61K39/00C07K2319/30
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 12,686,709
App. No.
19/352,098
Filed
Oct 7, 2025
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1644
USPC
424/192.1
Abstract

The present disclosure provides recombinantly manufactured fusion proteins comprising a Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein fragment or an analog thereof linked to a canine Fc fragment. Embodiments include the administration of the fusion proteins to patients as a treatment for cancers, tumors or other diseases associated with expression of the PD-L1 protein in dogs. Exemplary Fc fusion proteins and pharmaceutical formulations of exemplary Fc fusion proteins are provided, in addition to methods of use and preparation.

Claims (45)

1 . A fusion protein comprising a PD-L1 analog and an Fc fragment, wherein the PD-L1 analog and the Fc fragment are connected by a peptide linker, wherein the PD-L1 analog consists of the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 25)

FTITVSKDLYVVEYGGNVTMECKFPVEKQLNLFALIVYWEMEDKKIIQFV

NGKEDLKVQHSSYSQRAQLLKDQLFLGKAALQITDVRLQDAGVYRCLIGY

GGADYKRITLKVHAPYRNISQRISVDPVTSEHELMCQAEGYPEAEVIWTS

SDHRVLSGKTTITNSNREEKLFNVTSTLNINATANEIFYCTFQRSGPEEN

NTAELVIPERLPVPASERTHFMILGPF,

and

wherein the Fc fragment comprises the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 1)

DCPKCPAPEMLGGPSVFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVDLDPEDPEVQ

ISWFVDGKQMQTAKTQPREEQFNGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVN

NKALPSPIERTISKARGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFP

PDIDVEWQSNGQQEPESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDT

FICAVMHEALHNHYTQESLSHSPG.

2 . The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the PD-L1 analog and the Fc fragment are connected by the peptide linker comprising the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 7)

QGGGSGGQ.

3 . A fusion protein comprising a PD-L1 analog consisting of SEQ ID NO: 25 and an Fc fragment, wherein the PD-L1 analog and the Fc fragment are connected by a peptide linker, wherein the fusion protein comprises the sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 26)

FTITVSKDLYVVEYGGNVTMECKFPVEKQLNLFALIVYWEMEDKKIIQFV

NGKEDLKVQHSSYSQRAQLLKDQLFLGKAALQITDVRLQDAGVYRCLIGY

GGADYKRITLKVHAPYRNISQRISVDPVTSEHELMCQAEGYPEAEVIWTS

SDHRVLSGKTTITNSNREEKLFNVTSTLNINATANEIFYCTFQRSGPEEN

NTAELVIPERLPVPASERTHFMILGPFQGGGSGGQDCPKCPAPEMLGGPS

VFIFPPKPKDTLLIARTPEVTCVVVDLDPEDPEVQISWFVDGKQMQTAKT

QPREEQFNGTYRVVSVLPIGHQDWLKGKQFTCKVNNKALPSPIERTISKA

RGQAHQPSVYVLPPSREELSKNTVSLTCLIKDFFPPDIDVEWQSNGQQEP

ESKYRTTPPQLDEDGSYFLYSKLSVDKSRWQRGDTFICAVMHEALHNHYT

QESLSHSPG.

4 . The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the fusion protein is a homodimer comprising two identical monomers bound together via one or more disulfide bonds.

5 . The fusion protein of claim 1 , wherein the Fc fragment is glycosylated.

6 . An immunogenic composition comprising a fusion protein according to claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

7 . The immunogenic composition of claim 6 , further comprising an adjuvant.

8 . A fusion protein comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 or pharmaceutical composition thereof for use in treatment for cancers or tumors in dogs.

9 . A method of treating cancers or tumors in a dog, the method comprising administering a fusion protein according to claim 1 or pharmaceutical composition thereof to a dog in need thereof.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered via injection.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered as a priming vaccine, the method further comprising administering a booster of said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof 7 to 14 days after administering said priming vaccine.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said dog is antibody-positive to PD-L1 before said administering step, wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered as a booster vaccine to said dog.

14 . A method of treating cancers or tumors in a dog, the method comprising administering a fusion protein according to claim 3 or pharmaceutical composition thereof to a dog in need thereof.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered via injection.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered as a priming vaccine, the method further comprising administering a booster of said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof 7 to 14 days after administering said priming vaccine.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said dog is antibody-positive to PD-L1 before said administering step, wherein said fusion protein or pharmaceutical composition thereof is administered as a booster vaccine to said dog.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2025
From: ZION, TODD C.; LANCASTER, THOMAS M.
To: AKSTON BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072559/0775 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 19071424 · Mar 5, 2025
Provisional Application 63568130 · Mar 21, 2024
Provisional Application 63568146 · Mar 21, 2024
Provisional Application 63568097 · Mar 21, 2024
Provisional Application 63568173 · Mar 21, 2024
Provisional Application 63568116 · Mar 21, 2024
Related Publication 20260035433A1 · Feb 5, 2026
References Cited (33)
US 10851147B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10870686B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10947292B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10961294B2 · Lancaster · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11186623B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11261229B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11267862B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11498953B2 · Brondyk et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11673934B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11773151B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11919935B2 · Lancaster et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 12454565B2 · Zion · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20100125127A1 · Mikesell et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20160311902A1 · Morsey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160319018A1 · Morsey · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160324932A1 · Baldwin et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160333096A1 · Morsey et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180237535A1 · Morsey et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200231646A1 · Lancaster et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200407414A1 · Lancaster et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220088182A1 · Zion et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220213167A1 · Spindler · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20240101635A1 · Lancaster et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240182539A1 · Lancaster et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20250011431A1 · Baer et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20250289863A1 · Lancaster et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
US 20260015423A1 · Liu et al. · 2026 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022192898 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2026008017 · 2026 [cited by applicant]
WO 2026008026 · 2026 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in corresponding PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2025/018549, dated May 8, 2025. [cited by applicant]
Barroso-Gomila, et al., “Identification of proximal SUMO-dependent interactors using SUMO-ID”, Nature Communication, 2021, 12(1), 6671. [cited by applicant]
Office Action in corresponding U.S. Appl. No. 19/071,424, dated Apr. 24, 2025. [cited by applicant]