Roquefort Therapeutics PLC on Monday announced its patent for mesodermal killer, or MK, cell therapy has been approved by the Japan Patent Office.
Roquefort Therapeutics is a London-based biotechnology company focused on developing medicines for hard-to-treat cancers.
MK cells are a therapeutic cell type that display a novel immunophenotype that has both a direct effect and the ability to recruit and activate natural killer cells to modulate an immune response in immunology and oncology indications.
The patent enables Roquefort to licence MK cells to Japanese Big Pharma for use in the Japanese market and allows the company to access an accelerated route-to-market for promising cellular medicines in Japan. The accelerated designation speeds up both drug development and market approval assessment.
Chief Executive Officer Ajan Reginald said: ‘The granting of this Japan patent for MK cell therapy highlights both the quality of our intellectual property and the novelty of the MK cells together with the enhanced commercial opportunity in Japan. The granted patent creates the opportunity for the company to out-license the MK cell rights for the territory of Japan to a Japanese Big Pharma company.
‘Japan is the most sophisticated cell therapy market, with a high number of potential partners and an appealing accelerated pathway to market. The Roquefort Therapeutics board has the personal experience and a strong network from completing deals with Japan Big Pharma. We have initiated these discussions and will update the market in due course.’
Shares in Roquefort Therapeutics closed 2.8% lower at 3.50 pence each in London on Monday afternoon.
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