Medigene AG: Medigene expands patent protection of its technologies

Planegg/Martinsried (pta037/06.10.2020/22:00 UTC+2) Medigene AG (Medigene, FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T cell immunotherapies, has been granted further patents around its technologies. These include a European patent for allogeneic priming of helper T cells (EP3369812) and patents in Japan and New Zealand for the CrossTAg-2 technology (JP6697562B2 and NZ741955, respectively). Patent applications in further jurisdictions are pending.

Each of these patents addresses an important component of effective immune responses, the helper T cells (CD4+, HLA class II restricted T cells). These cells play a key role in orchestrating activities of other parts of the immune system against disease.

The European patent covers Medigene's approach to obtaining antigen-specific helper T cells. In addition to the previously reported CrossTAg-1 patents, the newly granted CrossTAg-2 patents in Japan and New Zealand cover the use of the CrossTAg technology in dendritic cells (DCs) and DC vaccines. The goal of applying this technology is to ensure that helper T cells are effectively stimulated against specific targets allowing for the broadest immune activation.

Prof. Dolores J. Schendel, CEO/CSO of Medigene: "Medigene's intellectual property portfolio continues to grow reflecting our innovation and scientific excellence in obtaining antigen-specific T cells. With our technologies we can isolate and activate both cytotoxic and helper T cells specific for selected target antigens. The activation of these major T cell subsets is a key feature of optimal immune responses, including those against cancer. Taking all our recent innovations together, we look forward to bringing our technology to the next level - helping patients to fight solid cancers."

Medigene holds an exclusive license to the European patent that was issued to the health research centre Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin. For the CrossTAg-2 patents, Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH and Helmholtz Zentrum München are co-applicants and the patents fall under the main license agreement in place with the research centre.

--- end of press release ---

About Medigene

Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard, ISIN DE000A1X3W00) is a publicly listed biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development.
For more information, please visit http://www.medigene.com

About Medigene's TCR-Ts

TCR-T technology arms a patient's own T cells with tumor-specific T cell receptors. The T cell receptor-modified T cells (TCR-T cells) are then able to detect and efficiently kill tumor cells. This immunotherapy approach attempts to overcome the patient's tolerance towards cancer cells and tumor-induced immunosuppression by activating and modifying the patient's T cells outside the body (ex vivo).

Medigene is conducting a first Phase I/II clinical trial of its TCR-T candidate MDG1011 in the blood cancer indications AML and MDS as well as a second Phase I clinical trial of MDG1021 in patients suffering from relapsed or persistent blood cancer after allogeneic (non-self) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In addition, Medigene is establishing a pipeline of TCRs and has collaborations with bluebird bio, Inc. and Cytovant Sciences HK Ltd. addressing solid tumor indications.

About Medigene's DC vaccines

In addition to Medigene's development focus on T cell-receptor modified T cells (TCR-Ts), the Company has developed a new generation of antigen-tailored dendritic cell (DC) vaccines.

Dendritic cells (DC) can take up antigens, process them and present peptides on their surface in a form that can induce antigen-specific T cells to mature and proliferate. In this way, T cells recognize and eliminate tumor cells which bear the same antigen peptide on their surface. Dendritic cells can also induce natural killer cells (NK cells) to attack tumor cells. The scientific team of Medigene has developed new, fast and efficient methods for generating autologous (patient-specific) mature dendritic cells which have the relevant characteristics to generate very strong T cell and NK cell immune responses. The dendritic cells can be loaded with various tumor antigens to treat different forms of cancer. Since an immune response builds up over the total time of administration of the DC vaccine, this form of therapy is particularly designed for patients who suffer from a tumor disease which has been reduced to such an extent by chemotherapy that the prevention of the recurrence of the tumor disease is the main goal.

This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene® is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only.

Medigene
Dr. Gary Waanders, Dr. Anna Niedl
Phone: +49 89 2000 3333 01
E-mail: investor@medigene.com

LifeSci Advisors
Mary-Ann Chang
Phone: +44 7483 284 853
e-mail: mchang@lifesciadvisors.com

In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail (investor@medigene.com). We will then delete your address from our distribution list.

(end)

Emitter:	Medigene AG Lochhamer Straße 11 82152 Planegg/Martinsried Germany
Contact Person:	Medigene PR/IR
Phone:	+49 89 2000 3333 01
E-Mail:	investor@medigene.com
Website:	www.medigene.com
ISIN(s):	DE000A1X3W00 (Share)
Stock Exchange(s):	Regulated Market in Frankfurt; Free Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate