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Vaccines

iOncologi's Universal Immune Fortifying RNAs (UNIFYRs) Receive Patents for Revolutionary RNA Therapeutics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

RNA-based immunotherapies have gained significant attention in recent years due to their potential in reprogramming the immune system to combat cancer. A recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering has made groundbreaking discoveries that have led to the development of a new class of RNA therapeutics called Universal Immune Fortifying RNAs (UNIFYRs). The research has led to the grant of a U.S. patent for the novel method using RNA-based formulations to enhance tumor responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The patent, owned by the University of Florida Research Foundation and exclusively licensed to iOncologi, further consolidates the intellectual-property portfolio supporting the company's UNIFYRs platform.
  • The UNIFYRs platform is an innovative approach that leverages RNA-driven immune reprogramming to restore and amplify checkpoint inhibitor efficacy across multiple solid-tumor types.
  • Scientific validation in Nature Biomedical Engineering reveals how non-tumor-antigen-specific mRNA formulations can amplify early type-I interferon responses and trigger epitope spreading, reprogramming the tumor microenvironment and restoring sensitivity to ICIs.
  • Clinical data presented at ESMO 2025 by MD Anderson Cancer Center investigators demonstrated that mRNA-based immune activation correlated with significantly improved overall survival among checkpoint-treated melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
  • iOncologi aims to work with strategic partners to accelerate the path to patients, leveraging the UNIFYRs platform to advance the field of RNA-based immune reprogramming.

Statistics:

  • 9% increase in overall survival among checkpoint-treated melanoma and NSCLC patients (source: MD Anderson Cancer Center presentation at ESMO 2025).
  • 1437-1452: Page numbers of the study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
  • Intellectual-property portfolio supporting the UNIFYRs platform includes:

+ U.S. patent granted for the novel method using RNA-based formulations to enhance tumor responsiveness to ICI therapy.

+ Exclusive license agreement between the University of Florida Research Foundation and iOncologi.

Sources:

  • Qdaisat, S., et al. Sensitization of tumours to immunotherapy by boosting early type-I interferon responses enables epitope spreading. Nat. Biomed. Eng 9, 1437--1452 [2025].
  • iOncologi, Inc. press release, Oct. 19, 2025.
  • ESMO 2025, presentation LBA54 by MD Anderson Cancer Center investigators, titled "SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumors to immune checkpoint blockade."

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