iNtRON Bio has announced the completion of two patent filings for a novel IMPA™ gene editing technology that leverages CRISPR-Cas9 and recombination techniques to target Pasteurella bacteriophages. This follows a recent U.S. patent application related to colorectal cancer using the IMPA™ phage engineering technology.

The newly developed IMPA™ gene editing technology focuses on the capsid of bacteriophages that infect Pasteurella bacteria, enabling the production of modular phages capable of carrying multiple payloads. This represents a foundational technology patent for various genetic engineering applications, including gene editing, foreign protein labeling, and the introduction of new capsids.

iNtRON Bio elaborated that it utilized its integrated database (IDB), which contains the 'ip-Virtual BR Bank' with over 11,000 bacteriophage records and more than 600 whole genome sequences (WGS) of isolated bacteriophages. Through AI-driven analysis and multi-omics data, the company selected genetic resources suitable for innovative CRISPR-Cas9 systems and recombination technologies, which are anticipated to be pivotal in developing anticancer drugs and vaccines in the future.

The newly filed patents detail a method to accurately manipulate the genes of bacteriophages infecting Pasteurella strains using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. This process involves creating and applying a plasmid that allows specific genetic alterations at target sites while retaining original infectivity, thereby enhancing editing efficiency. Furthermore, a specialized plasmid designed for implementing a recombination system was developed, allowing for quicker genetic modifications. The ability to edit genes of Pasteurella bacteriophages using these two techniques marks a significant milestone, as it is the first occurrence reported globally.

Jisu Son, Head of the BD Division, stated, "With the securing of the IMPA™ gene editing technology through this patent filing, we can now go beyond simply using bacteriophages as antibiotic alternatives for bacterial control, and expand the scope of application to a platform technology for developing targeted therapeutics or vaccines that label peptides or proteins selectively acting on specific diseases. This technology has enormous potential for broad use across the entire pharmaceutical industry, and we plan to apply it to gene editing of bacteriophages infecting bacteria other than Pasteurella in order to discover and select more effective drug candidates."

YOON, Kyung Won, the CEO of iNtRON Bio, commented, "Following our recent U.S. patent application, these additional two patent filings not only strengthen our existing IMPA™ platform technology but also expand its technical differentiation and application areas. On the premise of filing for PCT, we have submitted the two applications in Korea first to proceed rapidly to patent registration. By further focusing on the development of the IMPA™ phage engineering technology linked to this invention, we are enhancing the completeness of the technology, which will serve as the foundation for iNtRON Bio to develop various new drug candidates, including ADC drugs, anticancer agents, and vaccines."