Theragen Bio said Tuesday that it has obtained a domestic patent for a genetic sequence method to predict neoantigen to develop a vaccine for cancers.

The patented technology uses artificial intelligence to predict the binding affinity and immunogenicity of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class 2, a major factor of the immune system and drug candidates.

Neoantigens are newly formed antigens that the immune system has not previously recognized. The U.S. National Cancer Institute explains that it could play a significant role in helping the body make an immune response against cancer cells and possibly used in anti-cancer vaccines and other types of immunotherapy.

Theragen Bio acquired the second patent after receiving its technology for predicting HLA class 1 in September 2020, expanding the range to HLA class 2.

HLA class 1 molecules are expressed on the surface of almost all nucleated cells, while class 2 molecules are expressed only on B lymphocytes, antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and activated T cells.

The company is developing a vaccine that activates the immune system to kill cancer cells by administering customized antigens predicted via cancer genome analysis in the form of messenger ribonucleic acid, peptides, and dendritic cells.

“We expect to expand the mechanism of the cancer vaccine under development and to enhance immune activity through synergy between immune cells that directly affect drug efficacy,” a Theragen Bio official said.

Theragen Bio has been growing its developments in tailored cancer vaccines, business intelligence platforms, and AI medical big-data since it separated from Theragen Etex in 2020.