NEW YORK, March 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLS) (“SELLAS” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer immunotherapies for a broad range of cancer indications, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 14/760,997 related to certain Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) peptides. The allowed patent application, entitled “Immunogenic WT-1 Peptides and Methods of Use Thereof,” is part of an intellectual property portfolio exclusively licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), which includes patent applications in major international markets. Issuance of the patent will expand the scope of protection of SELLAS’ intellectual property, which includes five U.S. patents and patent applications, as well as four international applications, which were filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, for galinpepimut-S (GPS), the Company’s Wilms Tumor 1-targeting immunotherapy, and pipeline technologies.
The application includes claims to WT1 peptides having epitopes that provide further human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotype coverage, potentially broadening the applicability of WT1-based treatment strategies that utilize them. The terms of patent exclusivity on the component peptides extend to at least 2033 in the U.S.
“Together with the other granted patents and patent applications around GPS, this new patent will provide additional exclusivity for our product candidate pipeline,” stated Angelos Stergiou, MD, ScD h.c., President and Chief Executive Officer of SELLAS. “This Notice of Allowance for broad composition of matter claims is another important step forward for SELLAS that further strengthens and expands our WT1 intellectual property portfolio and regulatory exclusivity positions.”
SELLAS’ licensed patent portfolio includes several granted patents and pending patent applications in the U.S. and across Europe covering the peptide components of GPS, individually and in combination, as well as methods of using the peptides for the treatment of WT1-expressing cancers. Patents have been granted in the U.S. and across Europe with composition of matter claims covering each of the four peptides, individually and in combination, as well as methods of use covering treatment for cancer indications that SELLAS is pursuing in clinical trials.
About GPS
GPS is a multi-component composition composed of four peptides derived from the WT1 protein, which has been ranked by the National Cancer Institute as a top priority among cancer antigens for immunotherapy. Importantly, because the WT1 antigen is over-expressed in many malignancies, and is not found in most normal tissues, GPS has the potential to be a broad immunotherapy, effective across a multitude of diverse cancer types and patient populations.
About SELLAS Life Sciences Group
SELLAS is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on novel cancer immunotherapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. SELLAS' lead product candidate, galinpepimut-S (GPS), is licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and targets the Wilms Tumor 1 (WT1) protein, which is present in an array of tumor types. GPS has potential as a monotherapy or in combination to address a broad spectrum of hematologic malignancies and solid tumor indications. GPS has Phase 3 clinical trials planned (pending funding availability) for two indications, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). It is also in development as a potential treatment for multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer. SELLAS plans to study GPS in up to four additional indications. SELLAS has received Orphan Drug designations from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), as well as the European Medicines Agency, for GPS in AML and MPM; GPS also received Fast Track designation for AML and MPM from the FDA.
For more information on SELLAS, please visit www.sellaslifesciences.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to the expectations as to intellectual property protection and potential market and regulatory exclusivity for GPS, and the ability to further develop GPS for a broad range of cancer indications. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with cancer immunotherapy product development and clinical success thereof, attaining and maintenance of adequate intellectual property protection, the uncertainty of regulatory approval, and other risks and uncertainties affecting SELLAS and its development programs. Risks and uncertainties facing SELLAS are more fully described in SELLAS’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Other risks and uncertainties of which SELLAS is not currently aware may also affect SELLAS’ forward-looking statements and may cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements herein are made only as of the date hereof. SELLAS undertakes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information, future events, changes in its expectations or other circumstances that exist after the date as of which the forward-looking statements were made.
Investor Contact:
Will O’Connor
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
ir@sellaslife.com
David Moser, JD
SELLAS Life Sciences Group
813-864-2571
info@sellaslife.com