Medifocus Inc. announced that the Company has formally entered into an exclusive license agreement with Duke University regarding Heat-Activated and Tumor-Targeted Immunotherapy and Gene Therapy. The exclusive license agreement pertains to the Patent Rights of a Duke invention for the development of heat-activated and tumor-targeted immunotherapy and gene therapy for the treatment of cancers and other diseases. The technology, described in the agreement as a “method for selective expression of therapeutic genes in cancer cells by hyperthermia,” provides the design basis for an adenoviral gene delivery construct that releases IL-12 upon activation by the temperature rise caused by focused thermotherapy.

Temperature activation of pre-engineered adenovirus carrying the therapeutic genes injected intratumorally allows maximal release of the IL-12 therapeutics. Such spatial and temporal control of gene expression leads to enhanced efficacy and reduced treatment induced toxicity. The patent also provides for the possibility of adding other Cytokines and/or Biological Modifiers in combination with IL-12 within the construct to further enhance efficacy.

The technology is expected to provide Medifocus a foundation based on which it can build a novel pipeline of heat-activated and tumor-targeted genetic and molecular therapeutics for the treatment of cancers and other diseases.