Innate Biologics has been granted a U.S. patent for its bacterial protein-based anti-inflammatory technology, the company announced in a press release.

The technology is based off of bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligase effector polypeptides. These are proteins, made by bacteria, that can enter human cells. Once inside, the proteins can alter the molecular signals that cells use to do things like recycle old cellular components. In effect, they can gum up the works in ways that are ultimately beneficial for the bacteria.

Specifically, many of these proteins aim at reducing inflammation and decreasing the activity of the immune system. For a bacteria living in a human, that increases the serious threat posed by the human’s immune system.

The idea behind Innate Biologics’ technology is that these systems could be exploited to reduce inflammation in conditions in which the immune system is harmfully overactive, such as inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued U.S. Patent No. 10,406,215, which covers nine such bacterial proteins, each of which have been modified to make them more therapeutically suitable. Specifically, they link the bacterial proteins to other molecules with therapeutic relevance.

The patent covers Innate Biologics’ E3 Ligase recombinant protein platform that targets inflammatory signaling pathways. It was assigned to the University of Münster, where much of the initial research behind the new technology took place. It was co-managed by the University and Innate Biologics, and it was licensed exclusively to Innate Biologics.

This patent is just one that Innate Biologics has applied for based on this and similar technologies. The company is planning to develop these and other technologies for a variety of different delivery methods — oral, topical, injections, etc. — and to target multiple different organ systems and associated conditions.

“Innate Biologics in collaboration with the University of Münster and other world-leading research institutes, has produced a wide range of highly targeted, novel, patient-friendly and potent biologics to regulate inflammatory signaling,” said Peter Mondics, CEO of Innate Biologics. “There are a range of immediate potential therapeutic applications for our proteins, including new localized ways to address dermatological conditions like psoriasis, and its variants, and other age-related skin conditions.”