ImmunAid gets US patent for immune cycle tech

ImmunAid has secured its first US patent covering its technology for personalising treatment strategies for major diseases based on patients’ immune systems.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted ImmunAid a patent covering the treatment strategy, which revolves around determining the optimal time to deliver treatment to patients with cancer, autoimmune diseases and other life-threatening conditions.

The patient is monitored to determine their unique immune cycles, in order to identify the best window to administer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

The treatment strategy has so far been tested in trials involving cancer patients in Australia and the US.

ImmunAid is an unlisted public company currently 45% owned by its largest shareholder Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG). The company was founded in 2001 as a subsidiary of GTG.

ImmunAid secured its first European patent in late 2011, after which it launched a funding round, raising $1 million in a placement to US, European and Australian investors. While GTG is no longer ImmunAid’s parent, it retains a seat on the board.

The company has six patent families covering retroviral, cancer, autoimmune diseases and degenerative diseases. To date, multiple patents have been granted in Australia and three in Europe.

In a statement, Genetic Technologies said the granting of the US patent will probably justify a second round of funding.

Genetic Technologies shares were trading 11.76% higher at $0.095 as of around 1.30 pm on Wednesday.