Boostimmune Secures Japanese Patent for Sequence-Independent TCTP Antibody Technology Targeting MDSC Accumulation

• Japanese patent granted for technology that inhibits TCTP released from dead tumor cells using antibodies to suppress the accumulation of MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment
• Granted claims are not expressly limited to specific antibody CDRs or amino acid sequences, but are defined by function and therapeutic use
• Patent claims cover inhibition of PMN-MDSC accumulation as well as cancer therapeutics and therapeutic compositions containing the inhibitor
• Strengthens the core intellectual property portfolio supporting the development of BIO101 and the global commercialization of TCTP-targeting antibodies

SEOUL, South Korea, July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Boostimmune announced on July 13, 2026 that it has secured a Japanese patent covering technology that uses antibodies to inhibit the function of translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) released from dead tumor cells, thereby suppressing the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the tumor microenvironment.

The granted claims are not expressly limited to the individual complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) or amino acid sequences of a specific antibody. Instead, they functionally define an anti-TCTP antibody that inhibits the activity of TCTP released from dead tumor cells and suppresses MDSC accumulation in the tumor microenvironment. The claims also cover inhibition of polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSC) accumulation and cancer therapeutics or therapeutic compositions containing the inhibitor as an active ingredient.

Through this patent, Boostimmune has strengthened its intellectual property position in Japan not only for its proprietary BIO101 antibody candidate, but also for the development of therapeutics that modulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment through the claimed TCTP-targeting mechanism.

BIO101 is a novel immuno-oncology program designed to regulate MDSCs, one of the major immunosuppressive cell populations in the tumor microenvironment.

Although TCTP has primarily been known for its intracellular functions, it can be released into the extracellular space during tumor cell death. Extracellular TCTP may act on immunosuppressive myeloid cells, promote the recruitment and accumulation of MDSCs within tumors, and contribute to the suppression of antitumor immune responses.

Boostimmune is developing a therapeutic strategy that blocks extracellular TCTP with an antibody, with the aim of reducing MDSC accumulation in tumors and restoring antitumor immune activity.

The company believes that the newly granted patent may represent an important intellectual property right to consider in connection with the clinical development, licensing, and commercialization in Japan of TCTP-targeting antibody therapeutics based on the same or a similar mechanism of action.

BIO101 originated from research conducted by the laboratory of Tadatsugu Taniguchi, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and a globally recognized immunologist. The program was subsequently in-licensed by Boostimmune.

Professor Taniguchi's research team demonstrated that extracellular TCTP released from tumor cells can act on immunosuppressive myeloid cells and promote the accumulation of MDSCs within tumors. The findings were published in Nature Immunology in 2021. Professor Taniguchi is also a co-founder of Boostimmune.

Building on this research, Boostimmune has identified antibodies that block TCTP function and has advanced candidate optimization and preclinical development based on antibody binding properties, inhibition of MDSC accumulation, and activation of antitumor immune responses.

"This Japanese patent is significant because it is not limited to the sequence of a single BIO101 antibody," said Gwanghee Lee, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Boostimmune. "Rather, the granted claims are centered on the function of inhibiting TCTP released from dead tumor cells to suppress MDSC accumulation in tumors, as well as the related therapeutic uses and compositions."

He added, "Because this patent may be relevant to the development and commercialization of therapeutics that use TCTP antibodies to regulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment through the same or a similar mechanism, we intend to accelerate the development of BIO101 while actively pursuing strategic collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies."

Boostimmune is an oncology-focused biotechnology company co-founded in 2021 by Gwanghee Lee and Professor Tadatsugu Taniguchi. The company is developing multiple biologics-based oncology programs, including BIO101, an immuno-oncology program targeting TCTP, as well as novel antibody-drug conjugate programs.

CONTACT: contact@boostimmune.com

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Boostimmune Secures Japanese Patent for Sequence-Independent TCTP Antibody Technology Targeting MDSC Accumulation

Two-time Olympic champion runs in Brazil with the smartwatch he helped create

BRASILIA, Brazil, July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For decades, elite racing relied on highly precise positioning and professional full-marathon modes — advantages strictly reserved for professional teams. To nail accurate pace tracking and stable full-race monitoring, runners once depended on sophisticated professional gear and dedicated coaching support; reliable, lab-level positioning and endurance data were truly only accessible to elite athletes. With the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2, Huawei has brought professional-grade GPS accuracy and dedicated full-marathon modes to every course: steady, high-precision positioning in real races, reliable full-process monitoring throughout 42.195 km, refined through real-world racing and endorsed by the greatest marathon runner of all time.

Eliud Kipchoge, a marathon legend and two-time Olympic champion, serves as the smartwatch's global ambassador and played a direct role in its development alongside the high-performance team at dsm-firmenich. The Kenyan athlete embarked on Eliud's Running World, a two-year journey to run a marathon on each of the seven continents, with the goal of inspiring more active lifestyles around the world.

The second stop of the tour brings him back to a special place: Porto Alegre, on July 12, during the NB42K Porto Alegre. It was on Brazilian soil that Kipchoge won his first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, making this return particularly symbolic. "Each continent has its own spirit, and I want to share this journey with South America while inspiring people to believe that no human is limited," said the athlete.

What Kipchoge will put to the test in Porto Alegre is exactly what any runner can purchase today. The HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 is designed to democratize sports science for runners of all levels.

One of the smartwatch's most innovative features is its Intelligent Marathon mode, which supports tracking for a wide range of World Athletics‑labeled races and guides athletes through preparation, race day, and recovery.

For instance, the device includes a virtual pacer that calculates pace deviations in real time, displaying an on‑screen avatar that shows runners the exact pace needed to hit their targets, kilometer by kilometer. In elite marathons, this level of support has typically been reserved for professional athletes; with the GT Runner 2, it is now available to everyone. For Kipchoge, it will serve as a tool to fine‑tune his race strategy on Porto Alegre's fast and flat course. For recreational runners, it means knowing precisely when to push harder and maintain pace.

Eliud Kipchoge wore the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2 during the Porto Alegre Marathon, symbolizing the fusion of elite athletic performance and technological innovation. This has brought a device developed with insights from one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport to runners worldwide. Importantly, he validated the watch's performance with his own pace: its accurate data and comprehensive features are not just lab‑tested — they are real‑world proven, personally tested by the legend.

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From the Lab to the Road: How Training Science Arrives in Brazil with the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner 2