[Edaily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] SillaJen, Inc.(215600)announced on the 24th that it has registered a domestic patent for “SJ-640,” a follow-up technology to the next-generation anticancer virus platform “SJ-600” series.

SJ-640 is a technology that simultaneously expresses two types of complement-regulating proteins—“CD55” and “CD59”—on the surface of a virus. This patent is a follow-up intellectual property (IP) right to the SJ-600 series patents registered last year in South Korea and Japan.

Complement is a component of the body’s immune system that plays a role in eliminating foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. CD55 and CD59 are proteins that protect normal cells from complement attack.

Oncolytic viral therapies work by selectively infecting and destroying cancer cells. However, a long-standing limitation has been that when administered intravenously, the virus is eliminated by the complement system—a component of the body’s immune system—before it can sufficiently reach the tumor tissue.

SillaJen, Inc. has developed a technology based on its existing SJ-600 platform that reduces complement attack by expressing the CD55 protein on the virus surface; SJ-640 is characterized by being designed to additionally express the CD59 protein.

The company expects that simultaneous expression of both proteins will more effectively inhibit complement-mediated viral clearance, thereby increasing the virus’s survival time in the body and improving its efficiency in reaching tumors. Through this, the company is also exploring the possibility of expanding into indications requiring intravenous administration, such as deep-seated tumors and metastatic cancer.

With this patent registration, SillaJen, Inc. has expanded its patent portfolio related to the SJ-600 platform. The company plans to broaden the scope of its anticancer virus platform’s intellectual property rights by securing additional patents in the future.

A SillaJen, Inc. official stated, “The acquisition of this SJ-640 patent is highly significant as it blocks competitors from circumventing our technology and legally protects our technical advantage,” adding, “We will further maximize the value of the SJ-600 series through the support of our parent company, the M2N Co.,Ltd(033310) Group, and our ongoing patent expansion strategy.”