Aptis wins U.S. patent dispute against Ajinomoto over ADC platform

Aptis, a next-generation antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug development company, has won a patent dispute against Japan's Ajinomoto in the United States. The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) issued a final written decision rejecting all invalidity claims brought by Ajinomoto regarding Aptis's core ADC platform technology, AbClick®.

Ajinomoto had challenged the validity of the AbClick® patent based on several grounds, including written description, enablement, indefiniteness, novelty, and obviousness. However, the PTAB dismissed all arguments, including those related to procedures and evidence, thereby upholding the validity of the core patent.

AbClick® is a site-specific ADC platform technology that selectively conjugates drugs to a specific lysine (Lys248) in the antibody Fc region. This allows for a uniform drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) and consistent quality in mass production. Aptis, a subsidiary of Dong-A ST, expects this legal victory to strengthen its patent foundation in the U.S. market and facilitate global technology transfers and new partnerships.