- Development of gene-editing technology for Pasteurella bacteriophages using the IMPA™ platform
- Establishment of an advanced platform technology based on CRISPR-Cas9 and recombination for Pasteurella
- Patent applications filed for core proprietary technology enabling the incorporation of diverse payloads
BOSTON and SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — iNtRON Bio announced today, following its recent U.S. patent application related to colorectal cancer using the IMPA™ phage engineering technology, it has now completed the filing of two patents for a new IMPA™ gene editing technology utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 and recombination-based improvement methods targeting Pasteurella bacteriophages.
The newly developed IMPA™ gene editing technology targets the capsid of bacteriophages infecting Pasteurella bacteria to produce modular phages and improve them so that multiple payloads can be loaded. It is a fundamental technology patent for various genetic engineering techniques, including gene editing, foreign protein labeling, and the introduction of novel capsids.
iNtRON Bio explained that, based on AI-driven analysis and multi-omics data, it utilized its integrated database (IDB), which consists of the ‘ip-Virtual BR Bank’ containing over 11,000 bacteriophage records and more than 600 whole genome sequences (WGS) of bacteriophages isolated and secured by the company. By selecting useful genetic resources applicable to novel CRISPR-Cas9 systems and recombination technologies and implementing them in bacteriophage gene editing technologies, it is expected that the technology will be used as a core platform for the development of anticancer drugs and vaccines in the future.
In particular, the newly filed patents present a method to precisely manipulate the genes of bacteriophages infecting Pasteurella strains using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. This involves developing and applying a plasmid capable of specific genetic manipulation at target sites while maintaining the original infectivity, thereby maximizing editing efficiency. Additionally, a dedicated plasmid capable of implementing a recombination system was also developed, enabling genetic modifications to be performed in a shorter period of time. Furthermore, the fact that gene editing of Pasteurella bacteriophages has become possible using these two improvement techniques is of great significance as it is the first case ever reported worldwide.
Jisu Son, Head of the BD Division of the Company, stated, “With the securing of the IMPA™ gene editing technology through this patent filing, we can now go beyond simply using bacteriophages as antibiotic alternatives for bacterial control, and expand the scope of application to a platform technology for developing targeted therapeutics or vaccines that label peptides or proteins selectively acting on specific diseases. This technology has enormous potential for broad use across the entire pharmaceutical industry, and we plan to apply it to gene editing of bacteriophages infecting bacteria other than Pasteurella in order to discover and select more effective drug candidates.”
YOON, Kyung Won, the CEO of the Company, stated, “Following our recent U.S. patent application, these additional two patent filings not only strengthen our existing IMPA™ platform technology but also expand its technical differentiation and application areas. On the premise of filing for PCT, we have submitted the two applications in Korea first to proceed rapidly to patent registration. By further focusing on the development of the IMPA™ phage engineering technology linked to this invention, we are enhancing the completeness of the technology, which will serve as the foundation for iNtRON Bio to develop various new drug candidates, including ADC drugs, anticancer agents, and vaccines.”
Contact US
YOON, Kyung Won (Kevin) / CEO, Vice President / [email protected]
SHIN, Tae Kyu (TK) / BD Team Leader / [email protected]
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