DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Argos Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:ARGS) ("Argos"), an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of fully individualized immunotherapies based on the Arcelis® technology platform, announced that it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 9,085,807 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The issued claims relate to the company's AGS-004 product, which is currently being evaluated in an investigator initiated phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of HIV infection. The patent will expire in 2026, excluding any possible patent term extensions.
HIV has a high mutation rate resulting in an infected individual carrying a mixture of many different variants. The ability of Argos' strain-independent amplification technology to produce large amounts of the vast array of variants from a small amount of blood or plasma allows the production of individualized immunotherapies matched to each patient's viral 'swarm.' This technology is used to manufacture AGS-004, an experimental immunotherapy for HIV, consisting of optimized dendritic cells electroporated with amplified RNA encoding HIV antigens which include a multitude of strain variants present for selected antigens.
"We are excited that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted protection for this technology, which provides protection for our ability to customize immune responses to each patient's unique disease variants," said Charles Nicolette, chief scientific officer and vice president of research and development at Argos Therapeutics. "It adds to the continued strengthening of the immunotherapy opportunities using our proprietary Arcelis platform."
About the Arcelis® Technology Platform
Arcelis® is a fully personalized immunotherapy technology that captures mutated and variant antigens that are specific to each patient's disease. It is designed to overcome immunosuppression by producing a durable memory T-cell response without adjuvants that may be associated with toxicity. The technology is potentially applicable to a wide range of different cancers, and is designed to overcome many of the manufacturing and commercialization challenges that have impeded other personalized cancer immunotherapies. The Arcelis® process uses only a small tumor or blood sample and the patient's own dendritic cells, which are optimized from cells collected by a single leukapheresis procedure. The proprietary process uses RNA isolated from the patient's disease sample to program dendritic cells to target disease specific antigens. The activated, antigen-loaded dendritic cells are then formulated into the patient's plasma and administered via intradermal injection.
About Argos Therapeutics
Argos Therapeutics is an immuno-oncology company focused on the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer using its Arcelis® technology platform. Argos' most advanced product candidate, AGS-003, is being evaluated in the pivotal ADAPT phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The Company is also developing a separate Arcelis®-based product candidate, AGS-004, for the treatment of HIV, currently being evaluated in a phase 2 clinical trial aimed at HIV eradication in adult patients. For more information about Argos Therapeutics, visit www.argostherapeutics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about Argos' future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about Argos and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including whether Argos' cash resources will be sufficient to fund our continuing operations for the period anticipated; whether results obtained in clinical trials will be indicative of results obtained in future clinical trials; whether Argos' product candidates will advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis and receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if product candidates obtain approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Argos' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 which is on file with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Argos' views as of August 24, 2015. Argos anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Argos' views to change. However, while Argos may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Argos specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Argos' views as of any date subsequent to August 24, 2015.