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Introduction: OX40 is an immune checkpoint in cancer and its presence in cancer is a good prognosis, making it a highly relevant target for the development of new immunotherapies., Areas Covered: The patent literature reveals vital information on new trends in cancer therapies. The authors used the patent databases of the six major patent offices in the world: United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organization, Japan Patent Office, State Office of Intellectual Property of China and Korean Intellectual Property Office, to generate a panorama of patents related to OX40 agonists. Specific patents have been grouped into innovative patents and adoption patents., Expert Opinion: An increasing trend in the development of OX40 agonists in cancer, particularly in the years 2018 and 2019. United States was the leader in generating patents, followed by China and England. Major pharmaceutical companies have at least one anti-OX40 agonist, MEDI6469 and MEDI-0562 (AstraZeneca), PF-04518600 (Pfizer), GSK3174998 (GlaxoSmithKline), BMS-986,178 (Bristol-Myers Squibb) and MOXR0916 (Roche), which represent 68% of clinical trials conducted with OX40 agonists.

Introduction : GITR is a receptor that increases the activation of T lymphocytes against tumor cells. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on activating GITR to increase the immune response in various types of cancer. The authors of WO2018091739 patent propose a method to eradicate cancer by using bispecific anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies. Areas covered : WO2018091739 patent describes anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, pharmaceutical composition that contains it, and their application for cancer treatment, particularly colon carcinoma. Anti-GITR/anti-CTLA-4 antibodies are used at a dosage of 0.0003-3 mg antibody/kg patient weight and is suspended in an isotonic solution consisting of sodium phosphate, sucrose, NaCl, and polysorbate 80. Expert opinion : WO2018091739 only demonstrates that bispecific antibodies activate T cells, an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of CHO cells, and tumor inhibition in murine models of colon carcinoma. There are no clinical trials that show that treatment with bispecific antibodies can induce an antitumor response in cancer patients.

Introduction : TIGIT is an inhibitory receptor expressed by lymphocytes that suppresses the immune response against tumor cells. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on inhibiting the action of TIGIT and consequently improving the immune response in the various types of cancer. Authors of WO2018102536 patent propose a method to eradicate cancer utilizes anti-TIGIT antibody, etigilimab, in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody, nivolumab. Areas covered : WO2018102536 patent describes a method of cancer combinatorial treatment consisting of the utilization of either a pharmaceutical cocktail containing anti-TIGIT and an anti-PD-L1 antibody. Expert opinion : The results of the clinical trials only support trials regarding the tolerability of therapy with etigilimab, but does not show data related to the combined use of etigilimab and nivolumab.

Introduction : OX40 is a potent costimulatory receptor of the immune response in various types of cancer and has been used as a target for the generation of agonists of its function. Authors of WO2018202649 patent propose a method to eradicate cancer using a bispecific antibodies against OX40/CTLA-4. Areas covered : WO2018202649 patent describes several bispecific antibodies capable of specifically binding to OX40 and CTLA-4 that target regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Expert opinion : WO2018202649 patent demonstrates that bispecific antibodies against OX40/CTLA-4 have anti-tumor activity against colon, pancreatic and bladder cancer, and that there is a synergistic action with anti-PD-1 antibodies for the treatment of colon cancer. However, there is no evidence to conclude that bispecific antibodies can be used in cancers other than colon, pancreas and bladder. Likewise, the patent only describes the application in combinatorial therapy with anti-PD-1 antibodies, without presenting data relative to the combination with other immunotherapeutic agents against other checkpoint targets.

Introduction : TIM3 and PD-1 are checkpoint inhibitors in cancer that coordinate the downregulation of the proliferation of antigen-specific lymphocytes. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on inhibiting the action of TIM3 and PD-1 and consequently improving the immune response in the various types of cancer. The authors of patent EP3356411A1 propose several anti-TIM3/anti-PD-1 bispecific antibodies, as well as the method for producing them and their pharmacological application in the treatment of cancer. Areas covered : Patent EP3356411A1 describes a method by producing anti-TIM3/anti-PD-1 bispecific antibodies and their potential in cancer treatment. Expert opinion : Data supporting the patent demonstrate the ability by producing anti-TIM3/anti-PD-1 bispecific antibodies. Although the proposed methodology is very interesting and promising, further studies are necessary to assess the clinical applicability of the inventions on cancer.

Introduction : OX40 is checkpoint inhibitor in cancer that coordinates the downregulation of the proliferation of antigen-specific lymphocytes. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on inhibiting the action of OX40 and consequently improving the immune response in the various types of cancer. Authors of patent US2018256711A1 propose a method to eradicate cancer that utilizes anti-OX40 agonist antibody in combination with anti-PD-L1 antagonist antibody. Areas covered : Patent US2018256711A1 describes a method of cancer combinatorial treatment consisting of the utilization of a pharmaceutical cocktail containing anti-OX40 and an anti-PD-L1 antibody. Expert opinion : The results of the clinical trials only support trials regarding the tolerability of combinatorial therapy, even when the objectives of determining the safety and pharmacokinetics of the treatment are proposed.

Introduction: LAG-3 is checkpoint inhibitor in cancer that coordinates the down regulation of the proliferation of antigen-specific lymphocytes. There is a great need to discover and develop new therapies focused on inhibiting the action of LAG-3 and consequently improving the immune response in the various types of cancer. Authors of patent US2018271940 propose a method to eradicate cancer that utilizes the combination of LAG-3Ig and anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibodies. Areas covered: Patent US2018271940 describes a method consisting of the utilization of either a pharmaceutical cocktail containing LAG-3Ig and an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody for activation of T cells as a potential for the treatment of cancer. Expert opinion: Data supporting the patent demonstrate the ability of LAG-3Ig and PD-1/PD-L1 to be useful in T cells activation, in addition to the reports showing that LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies are therapeutic agents against cancer. Although the proposed methodology is very interesting and promising, further studies are necessary to assess the clinical applicability of the inventions on cancer.