mRNA Cancer Vaccines: PDAC & GBM — PatSnap Eureka
mRNA Cancer Vaccine Pipeline: Personalized Neoantigens in Pancreatic Cancer & Glioblastoma
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma present some of oncology's greatest immunological challenges. Personalized mRNA vaccines encoding tumor-specific neoantigens — combined with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors and adjuvants — are emerging as a leading strategy for these hard-to-treat indications.
Five Distinct Modalities Shaping the mRNA Cancer Vaccine Pipeline
From individualized neoepitope constructs to computational identification platforms, the IP landscape spans multiple complementary approaches targeting PDAC and GBM.
Personalized mRNA Vaccines Encoding Tumor-Specific Neoepitopes
The largest cluster of retrieved results concerns individualized mRNA vaccines encoding cancer-specific somatic mutation-derived neoepitopes delivered predominantly via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). Genentech/Roche has filed extensively across US, WO, AU, TW, JP, CN, BR, and other jurisdictions. ModernaTX holds foundational IP on concatemeric mRNA constructs encoding multiple cancer epitopes on a single poly-epitope mRNA of 1,000–3,000 nucleotides.
LNP delivery · KRAS/TP53 targets · 8+ jurisdictionsNeoantigen Identification & Computational Platforms
Gritstone Bio has filed in multiple jurisdictions on machine learning-based neoantigen presentation models that take tumor sequencing data and predict MHC allele-specific surface presentation likelihoods for candidate neopeptides. Fudan University Cancer Hospital has filed on RNA-seq-based identification of transcription-derived neoantigens including splice-variant neoantigens, explicitly validated in PDAC patient datasets (CPTAC PDAC dataset).
ML-MHC prediction · splice-variant neoantigens · CPTAC PDACPeptide-Based Vaccines for Glioblastoma
Immatics Biotechnologies has filed on tumor-associated peptide epitopes from HLA class I and II molecules for GBM and other brain tumors. The GBM-specific patent covers T-helper epitopes combined with CTL epitopes in multi-component vaccine compositions designed to stimulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses against glioma cells. Personalized immunotherapy against neuronal and brain tumors is also explicitly addressed by Immatics.
HLA class I & II · CD4+ / CD8+ T cells · GBMDendritic Cell Vaccines — Peptide-Pulsed Antigen Presentation
Baylor Research Institute filed in multiple jurisdictions on DC vaccines pulsed with mesothelin and CEA peptides, with GM-CSF/IFN-α2b maturation, for pancreatic cancer. These are now likely preclinical-to-early clinical stage comparators or predecessor approaches to current mRNA vaccine strategies. Duke University holds earlier foundational IP on RNA-loaded dendritic cells and macrophages for induction of CTL responses.
Mesothelin · CEA · TLR4 co-stimulation · PDACKRAS, TP53, and PD-1/PD-L1 Axis: The Core Target Triad
KRAS mutations (G12D, G12V, G12C) represent the highest-priority shared neoantigen targets in this dataset. ModernaTX patents explicitly list KRAS mutations as encoded antigens in poly-neoepitope mRNA constructs. The Sichuan University West China Hospital multi-epitope mRNA vaccine filing explicitly encodes KRAS G12D/G12V/G12C among its tandem epitopes. KRAS mutations are the dominant oncogenic driver in PDAC at approximately 90% frequency, according to National Cancer Institute data.
TP53 mutations (R248W, R248Q, R175H, R273C, R273H) are referenced in both Sichuan University filings and ModernaTX patents as encoded antigens in multi-epitope constructs. The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is the dominant co-target across the dataset — multiple Genentech and F. Hoffmann-La Roche filings frame RNA vaccines as synergizing with atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) or pembrolizumab/nivolumab (anti-PD-1). PatSnap's life sciences intelligence platform can help researchers track the evolution of these target filings in real time.
Mesothelin and CEA are identified as shared tumor-associated antigens in PDAC DC-vaccine contexts by Baylor Research Institute. TCR clonotypic expansion is referenced in Genentech's CN filing as a biomarker — specifically, de novo significantly expanded TCR clones above a reference frequency are proposed to predict RNA vaccine responsiveness, a potentially significant patient selection tool. For GBM-specific targets, WHO classification of CNS tumors provides the clinical context for HLA class I/II-derived epitopes described in Immatics filings.
Johns Hopkins University identified PSMC5, TFRC, and PPP1R12A as post-vaccination antibody response targets in long-term PDAC survivors following cancer vaccination, with tissue expression increasing from normal to pre-malignant to tumor states — suggesting their potential as vaccine antigen targets.
Patent Landscape Data: Combination Strategies & Assignee Activity
Derived from patent and literature records retrieved via PatSnap Eureka. All values reflect signals within this dataset only.
mRNA Vaccine Combination Strategy Coverage
The RNA vaccine + PD-1/PD-L1 + chemotherapy triplet appears in filings across at least 8 jurisdictions — the most extensively prosecuted combination in the dataset.
Disease Indication Focus in Retrieved Patent Dataset
Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) accounts for the dominant disease focus in this dataset. GBM is represented in a smaller subset, primarily through peptide and neoantigen immunotherapy patents.
Six Emerging Combination Directions in the IP Landscape
Retrieved patent and literature records signal the following combination strategies for mRNA cancer vaccines in PDAC and GBM.
RNA Vaccine + PD-1/PD-L1 + Chemotherapy (PDAC Triplet)
The most consistently represented combination in this dataset. Genentech filings describe a structured dosing schedule with a priming phase (RNA vaccine + PD-1 antagonist), a chemotherapy phase, and a boost phase (RNA vaccine + PD-1 antagonist) — appearing in patents filed across at least 8 jurisdictions. A Phase I study (Balachandran et al., JCO 2022) demonstrated acceptable safety profile and promising RNA vaccine-induced immune responses in PDAC.
Self-Adjuvanting mRNA: STING Agonist Encoded On-Construct
ModernaTX patents describe mRNA constructs that encode both tumor neoepitopes and STING-activating immune enhancers on the same construct — embedding innate immune activation directly into the vaccine payload rather than as a separate adjuvant. LNP formulation is explicitly identified as producing synergistic immune responses compared to other delivery modalities. This represents an emerging "self-adjuvanting mRNA" direction.
Key Assignees & Their Strategic Positions in the mRNA Vaccine IP Landscape
Activity is predominantly patent-driven (commercial IP), with a small academic literature contribution. Understanding assignee positioning is critical for FTO analysis.
| Assignee | Origin | Focus Area | Filing Breadth | Stage Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genentech / F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG | US / Switzerland | Individualized RNA vaccine + PD-1 axis antagonist for PDAC | 12+ filings · 8+ jurisdictions | Phase I (PDAC) |
| ModernaTX, Inc. | US | Poly-neoepitope mRNA architecture, LNP formulation, STING adjuvant, KRAS/p53 targets | 4 patent families · SG, CA, JP, US | Phase II/III (melanoma model) |
| Gritstone Bio / Gritstone Oncology | US | ML-based neoantigen identification, MHC presentation prediction, somatic mutation sequencing | Multiple families · SG, CO, MX, TW | Preclinical / Platform |
| Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH | Germany | GBM peptide vaccines, HLA class I/II epitopes, neuronal tumor immunotherapy | DK, SG, PL filings | Preclinical / Early Clinical |
| Chinese Academic Institutions | China | mRNA construct design, transcriptome neoantigen discovery, novel delivery (PSB/Nb nanosheets) | Multiple CN filings · 2022–2025 | Preclinical (emerging wave) |
| Baylor Research Institute | US | DC-based vaccine IP for PDAC — mesothelin/CEA peptide pulsing | EP, JP, CA · 2013–2014 | Legacy / Comparator |
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From Phase I Evidence to Translational Design Principles
The most direct clinical evidence signal in the dataset is a Phase I clinical study in PDAC: the Genentech Japan filing explicitly references a Phase I study (Balachandran et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology 40, no. 16_suppl, 2022:2516-2516) demonstrating "acceptable safety profile and promising RNA vaccine-induced immune responses" in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The combination included atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1), individualized RNA vaccine, and chemotherapy. ClinicalTrials.gov tracks ongoing studies in this space.
A Phase II/III context is provided by a WO patent filing by MEEHAN, ROBERT (2024) describing mRNA-1 encoding up to 34 patient-specific neoantigens combined with pembrolizumab in resected high-risk melanoma patients, with recurrence-free survival as the endpoint. While this is not PDAC or GBM, it establishes the translational maturity of the combined individualized mRNA vaccine + PD-1 inhibitor approach. The European Medicines Agency has published guidance on adaptive trial designs relevant to this class.
Five Prime Therapeutics filings reference an ongoing Phase Ia/b study (NCT02526017) of cabiralizumab (anti-CSF1R) + nivolumab (anti-PD-1) in pancreatic cancer patients — relevant context for combination immunotherapy in PDAC but not mRNA vaccine-specific. Genentech's CN filing also describes a TCR sequencing-based patient stratification method, proposing that de novo significantly expanded (SE) TCR clones above a reference frequency predict RNA vaccine responsiveness — a potentially significant biomarker for patient selection. No retrieved results contain direct GBM mRNA vaccine clinical trial evidence.
Four Critical Strategic Implications for R&D and IP Teams
Derived from patent filing patterns, clinical signals, and assignee activity in this dataset. For teams working on life sciences innovation intelligence.
Genentech/Roche Dominates PDAC mRNA + Checkpoint IP
Genentech/Roche dominates the PDAC mRNA vaccine + checkpoint combination IP landscape in this dataset, with a family spanning 8+ jurisdictions and a Phase I clinical signal specifically in PDAC. Organizations seeking to enter this space will face significant freedom-to-operate (FTO) challenges around the individualized RNA vaccine + PD-1 axis antagonist triplet regimen architecture. Use PatSnap Analytics to conduct FTO screening.
12+ filings · 8+ jurisdictions · FTO challengeGritstone Bio's Neoantigen Platform Is a Critical IP Chokepoint
Neoantigen identification platform IP (Gritstone Bio) represents a critical upstream chokepoint. Machine-learning MHC presentation models combined with tumor sequencing pipelines are covered by patent families in multiple jurisdictions. Developers of personalized mRNA vaccines will need either licenses or independent platform development to avoid IP overlap in the computational neoantigen identification workflow. PatSnap customers use citation analysis to map these dependencies.
ML-MHC models · SG, CO, MX, TW · license or design-aroundGBM mRNA Vaccine IP Is Substantially Thinner — Potential Opportunity
GBM-directed mRNA vaccine IP is substantially thinner in this dataset than PDAC. Immatics Biotechnologies' peptide vaccine compositions represent the most specific GBM immunotherapy IP retrieved, but mRNA-format GBM vaccines are largely absent from the patent literature in this dataset. This signals either an early-stage competitive gap or a pre-patenting research phase — potentially an opportunity for first-mover IP positioning. The PatSnap Analytics platform can help identify white spaces.
mRNA-GBM gap · first-mover opportunity · white spaceKRAS Mutation Neoantigens Are the Highest-Priority Shared Antigen Target
KRAS mutation-derived neoantigens represent the highest-priority shared antigen target for PDAC mRNA vaccine design in this dataset. ModernaTX's poly-neoepitope IP explicitly encodes KRAS mutations, and multiple Chinese academic filings confirm this focus. The ability to include KRAS G12D/G12V/G12C in an mRNA construct that also encodes individualized private neoantigens is a key design parameter for next-generation PDAC vaccines. Self-adjuvanting mRNA constructs remain a relatively open IP area.
KRAS G12D/G12V/G12C · ~90% PDAC frequency · design-criticalmRNA Cancer Vaccines in PDAC & GBM — Key Questions Answered
For PDAC, retrieved results highlight cancer-specific somatic mutations as the primary target substrate for mRNA vaccine construction. Key molecular targets include somatic mutation-derived neoepitopes (KRAS G12D/G12V/G12C, TP53, PIK3CA, BRAF V600E) — particularly in PDAC. KRAS mutations are the dominant oncogenic driver in PDAC (~90% frequency), making these the highest-priority shared neoantigen targets in this dataset.
Genentech, Inc. / F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG is the single most prolific assignee in this dataset for mRNA cancer vaccines, with at least 12 distinct patent filings across US, WO, AU, TW, JP, CN, BR, MX, IL, and CA jurisdictions, all covering individualized RNA vaccine + PD-1 axis antagonist combination methods for cancer, with a specific PDAC indication family. ModernaTX, Inc. holds at least 4 patent families covering foundational poly-neoepitope mRNA vaccine architecture, LNP formulation, KRAS/p53 targets, and STING adjuvant incorporation.
The Genentech Japan filing explicitly references a Phase I study (Balachandran et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology 40, no. 16_suppl, 2022:2516-2516) demonstrating acceptable safety profile and promising RNA vaccine-induced immune responses in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This is the most direct clinical evidence signal in the dataset. No retrieved results contain direct GBM mRNA vaccine clinical trial evidence.
The most consistently represented combination in this dataset is individualized RNA vaccine + PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor + chemotherapy (PDAC-specific triplet). Genentech filings describe a structured dosing schedule with a priming phase (RNA vaccine + PD-1 antagonist), a chemotherapy phase, and a boost phase (RNA vaccine + PD-1 antagonist). ModernaTX patents describe mRNA constructs that encode both tumor neoepitopes and STING-activating immune enhancers on the same construct — embedding innate immune activation directly into the vaccine payload rather than as a separate adjuvant.
GBM-directed mRNA vaccine IP is substantially thinner in this dataset than PDAC. Immatics Biotechnologies' peptide vaccine compositions represent the most specific GBM immunotherapy IP retrieved, but mRNA-format GBM vaccines are largely absent from the patent literature in this dataset. This signals either an early-stage competitive gap or a pre-patenting research phase — potentially an opportunity for first-mover IP positioning.
Gritstone Bio has filed in multiple jurisdictions on machine learning-based neoantigen presentation models that take tumor sequencing data and predict MHC allele-specific surface presentation likelihoods for candidate neopeptides. Neoantigen identification platform IP (Gritstone Bio) represents a critical upstream chokepoint. Machine-learning MHC presentation models combined with tumor sequencing pipelines are covered by patent families in multiple jurisdictions. Developers of personalized mRNA vaccines will need either licenses or independent platform development to avoid IP overlap in the computational neoantigen identification workflow.
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References
- Methods of treating pancreatic cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2024, WO [Patent]
- Methods of treating pancreatic cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2025, US [Patent]
- Methods of treating pancreatic cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2026, JP [Patent]
- Methods of treating pancreatic cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2025, AU [Patent]
- Methods of treating cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2020, CA [Patent]
- Methods of treating cancer with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — Genentech, Inc., 2021, MX [Patent]
- RNA molecules for use in cancer therapies — Genentech, Inc., 2025, TW [Patent]
- Methods of inducing neoepitope-specific T cells with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, 2021, WO [Patent]
- Methods of inducing neoepitope-specific T cells with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, 2021, TW [Patent]
- Methods of inducing neoepitope-specific T cells with a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and an RNA vaccine — F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, 2022, AU [Patent]
- RNA cancer vaccines — ModernaTX, Inc., 2025, US [Patent]
- RNA cancer vaccines — ModernaTX, Inc., 2018, CA [Patent]
- RNA cancer vaccines — ModernaTX, Inc., 2019, SG [Patent]
- Neoantigen identification, manufacture, and use — Gritstone Bio, Inc., 2019, SG [Patent]
- Neoantigen identification using hotspots — Gritstone Oncology, Inc., 2019, TW [Patent]
- Identification, manufacture and use of neoantigens — Gritstone Oncology Inc., 2020, CO [Patent]
- Composition of tumor-associated peptides and related anti-cancer vaccine for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) and other cancers — Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, 2017, DK [Patent]
- Personalized immunotherapy against several neuronal and brain tumors — Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, 2020, PL [Patent]
- Dendritic cell (DC)-vaccine therapy for pancreatic cancer — Baylor Research Institute, 2014, EP [Patent]
- Dendritic cell (DC)-vaccine therapy for pancreatic cancer — Baylor Research Institute, 2013, CA [Patent]
- A method and device for identifying transcription-derived tumor neoantigens — Fudan University Cancer Hospital, 2025, CN [Patent]
- Combination of a PD-1 antagonist and CpG-C type oligonucleotide for treating cancer — Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., 2018, MX [Patent]
- Combination tumor immunotherapy — Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2021, PT [Patent]
- An mRNA vaccine delivery system — Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, 2023, CN [Patent]
- National Cancer Institute — KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov — mRNA Cancer Vaccine Studies
- World Health Organization — CNS Tumour Classification
- European Medicines Agency — Adaptive Trial Design Guidance
All data and statistics on this page are sourced from the references above and from PatSnap's proprietary innovation intelligence platform. This report is derived from a limited set of patent and literature records retrieved across targeted searches and represents a snapshot of innovation signals within this dataset only.
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