BioTech IP Review

Assignee: Aura Biosciences, Inc. and U.S. Government (NCI/NIH)
Patent Number: US 11,806,406 B2
Filed: August 5, 2021
Issued: November 7, 2023
Title: Virus‑like particle conjugates for diagnosis and treatment of tumors

What This Patent Covers

This patent protects novel virus‑like particle (VLP) drug conjugates — engineered nanoparticles derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) capsid proteins — that are conjugated to photosensitive or therapeutic payloads and used to target and treat solid tumors.

Key aspects of the invention include:

• VLP drug conjugates: Compositions comprising VLPs (typically HPV16 L1 protein assemblies) conjugated to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, such as a photosensitive dye that can be activated by light to induce tumor cell necrosis.
• Targeting and killing cancer cells: Methods and compositions for delivering these conjugates to tumor cells (e.g., ocular or other solid tumors) where, upon activation (e.g., light exposure), the conjugate selectively kills tumor cells.
• Therapeutic and diagnostic use: Claims cover both treatment methods and designs for using these VLP conjugates in diagnosis and therapy of cancers.

This patent forms part of Aura’s core IP base enabling its Virus‑Like Drug Conjugate (VDC) platform, which supports its late‑stage and expanding clinical programs.

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Why This Patent Is Important

• Foundation of lead pipeline: The VLP conjugate technology covered by this patent underpins belzupacap sarotalocan (bel‑sar / AU‑011) — Aura’s lead VDC candidate being developed in a global Phase 3 trial for early choroidal melanoma with expansion plans into bladder cancer and other solid tumors.
• Broad therapeutic potential: VLP conjugates represent a platform that can be applied across multiple tumor types via targeted delivery and activation strategies, enhancing commercial opportunity if bel‑sar or related candidates gain approval.
• Strategic IP moat: Securing patent rights around VLP compositions and mechanisms of tumor targeting gives Aura exclusivity around the core drug delivery and action mechanism that supports its clinical and future commercial strategy.
• Expiry horizon enabling lifecycle strategy: With this family of patents (through various issuances and extensions), Aura can maintain protection into the late 2020s and build additional patent layers (e.g., new formulations, combination therapies).