Posted: 27 August 2025
Cartherics announced it had been granted a patent by the Chinese Patent Office for its “Method for Providing Immune Cells with Enhanced Function,” marking a significant milestone in the company’s intellectual property portfolio.
The patent was reported to cover induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with a targeted knockout of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR). This receptor is known to inhibit immune activity in the tumour microenvironment of solid cancers. High concentrations of adenosine in such tumours typically suppress immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells. By removing the A2A receptor, Cartherics’ engineered NK cells were expected to maintain their activity and improve anti-tumour responses.
Chief Executive Officer, Professor Alan Trounson AO, stated: “Cartherics’ strategy for destroying solid tumours involves editing critical genes in our cell products to enable the immune system to operate as designed to control cancer growth. Blocking the A2AR gene is likely to be a significant addition to our strategic arsenal against cancer.”
The company noted that this intellectual property strengthened its already broad patent position and created commercial opportunities within China’s expanding market. The protection was described as vital for advancing multiple candidates in Cartherics’ pipeline, which is aimed at tackling conditions with high unmet need, such as ovarian cancer, triple negative breast cancer, and endometriosis.
Based in Melbourne, Cartherics is progressing a pipeline of off-the-shelf immunotherapies derived from iPSCs. Its lead candidate, CTH-401, is a CAR-iNK cell therapy that targets TAG-72 and incorporates additional genetic modifications to overcome immunosuppression.
The company emphasised its long-term mission to transform women’s health through novel cell-based treatments, while also advancing programmes addressing other difficult-to-treat solid tumours and disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
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