Activatable interleukin 12 polypeptides and methods of use thereof

US12275769B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Werewolf Therapeutics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• William Winston · Marlborough, US
• Daniel Hicklin · Montclair, US
• Vinay Bhaskar · South San Francisco, US
• Luke Evnin · San Francisco, US
• Patrick Baeuerle · Gauting, DE
• Jose Andres Salmeron Garcia · Westminster, US
• Heather Brodkin · Newton, US
• Cynthia Seidel-Dugan · Belmont, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 11, 2022
• Grant date: Apr 15, 2025
• Expiry date: Jun 19, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07K2319/50
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure features fusion proteins that are conditionally active variants of IL-12. In one aspect, the full-length polypeptides of the invention have reduced or minimal cytokine-receptor activating activity even though they contain a functional cytokine polypeptide. Upon activation, e.g., by cleavage of a linker that joins a blocking moiety, e.g., a steric blocking polypeptide, in sequence to the active cytokine, the cytokine can bind its receptor and effect signaling.