The patent protects Elicera’s oncolytic virus, which has been engineered to induce immunogenic cell death in cancer cells, activate T- and NK-cells, and support the maturation of dendritic cells – giving it enhanced anticancer activity, including against solid tumors. It grants Elicera exclusive rights in Japan to develop and sell ELC-201-based cancer treatments.

“This first Notice of Allowance for ELC-201 from the Japan Patent Office is an important step in building global protection for the candidate, following our recent patent success with ELC-401 in the US,” says Elicera CEO Johan Liwing. “It underscores the breadth and durability of our iTANK-based pipeline, demonstrates the strength of Elicera’s innovation, and gives us a stronger foundation to advance ELC-201 from here.”

ELC-201 is a next-generation oncolytic virus built on three combined mechanisms of action against cancer. The candidate has been genetically modified with Elicera’s proprietary iTANK technology as well as the immune-stimulating factor 4-1BBL, both of which strongly activate a patient’s own killer T-cells for a broad, parallel attack on cancer. ELC-201 is designed to be applicable across most solid tumor types.

iTANK is Elicera’s proprietary, commercially available platform, originally developed to address two of the biggest challenges facing CAR T-cell therapies in solid tumors: highly heterogeneous tumor targets and a hostile tumor microenvironment. Elicera uses iTANK to arm both its own CAR T-cell and oncolytic virus candidates, and the platform can also be licensed to other CAR T-cell developers.

Four drug candidates in development

Elicera has four drug candidates in development — two CAR T-cell therapies and two oncolytic viruses — based on research from Professor Magnus Essand’s group at Uppsala University. The company’s shares are listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market.