JW CreaGene, a subsidiary of JW Shinyak, said Friday that it has won approval from the European Patent Office (EPO) for technology to develop new biotreatment using semi-mature dendritic cells (DC).

The patent relates to a method to make semi-mature DC by processing autoantigens and activating substances to immature DC. The technology is used to develop treatments and vaccines for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and bags.

DCs play the role of activating or suppressing the immune cells, depending on the maturation stage.

Mature DC is used for anticancer vaccines because it strengthens the patient's weakened immune system and leads the T cells to attack cancer cells. On the other hand, semi-mature DCs can be used to treat autoimmune disease as they have an immune-regulatory function that regulates excessive immune responses and suppresses immune cells from attacking autologous tissue.

JW CreaGene is developing mature DC-based treatment for liver cancer and glioblastoma and immune disease treatment based on immune disease immature DC manufacturing technology.

With the EPO’s approval, the company plans to complete the final patent approval this year via individual entry proceedings for major European countries.

"We have secured patents for anticancer vaccines and technology for manufacturing DC that can be applied to the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis in advanced markets like Europe," JW CreaGene CEO Lee Kyung-joon said. “The company will focus on successful commercialization as the products are recognized for its value in the global immune cell therapy market.

EPO allowed JW CreaGene to register a patent of the manufacturing technology for mature DC therapy necessary for the development of anticancer vaccines in December 2019.