We are pleased to announce that patent protection has been granted for two groups of innovative peptides developed at the Nencki Institute for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. Gliomas are among the most common and most difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system in adults, and patient prognosis remains extremely poor (90% of patients do not survive more than 3 years after diagnosis).

Both inventions are the result of many years of research conducted by the team of Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek on the mechanisms of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The peptides from both families target different molecular pathways but are based on a common therapeutic strategy: blocking the signaling between glioma cells and immune system cells that enables the tumor to evade immune surveillance.

The invention entitled “Engineered synthetic peptides, compositions comprising same, and methods of use thereof for treating malignant gliomas” has received patent protection in Europe (patent no. EP4525904). The patent covers short synthetic peptides that bind to osteopontin (OPN), a protein responsible for reprogramming microglia and macrophages into a pro-invasive phenotype that supports tumor growth (Ellert-Miklaszewska et al. 2016). The identified peptides block the binding of OPN to integrin receptors on the surface of microglia, thereby inhibiting the glioma invasiveness supported by these cells. In a mouse model of human glioblastoma multiforme, one of the identified peptides (I49), administered directly into the tumor, significantly inhibited tumor growth. In addition, the team demonstrated that the prototype peptide exhibits enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (Ellert-Miklaszewska et al. 2025).

The inventors are: Dr Katarzyna Poleszak, Dr Maria Pasierbińska, Dr Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska, Dr Paulina Pilanc-Kudlek, Dr Paweł Wiśniewski, and Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek.

The second patent, for the invention entitled “Compositions and methods for treating glioma”, was granted in the United States (patent no. US 12582695). The protection covers peptides that disrupt the binding of GM-CSF (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) to its receptor present on microglia and macrophages. GM-CSF is overexpressed in malignant gliomas and is responsible for the recruitment and polarization of myeloid cells that support tumor progression. One of the peptides from this group demonstrated strong anti-tumor activity in a mouse model.

The inventors are: Dr Katarzyna Poleszak, Dr Maria Pasierbińska, Dr Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska, Dr Paweł Wiśniewski, and Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek.

The process of obtaining intellectual property protection was coordinated by the Institute’s Technology Transfer Office, with significant involvement from Dr Dorota Gierej-Czerkies.

Both inventions fall into the category of so-called novel market innovations, meaning that they are not modifications of existing drugs, but rather responses to previously unmet clinical needs in glioma therapy. The developed peptides are intended to be administered directly into the cavity left after tumor removal, which would allow them to bypass the blood–brain barrier while simultaneously reducing the risk of side effects.

The next stage in the development of drug candidates based on the identified peptides will involve formulation optimization (i.e., determining the form in which the future drug will be administered) and preclinical studies aimed at paving the way for clinical trials. To support the development of these therapeutic candidates, the spin-off company PeptAid was established.

The research that led to these inventions was funded by the following sources:

• 2012-2017: National Science Centre, MAESTRO grant no 2012/04/A/NZ3/00630
• 2015–2019: National Science Centre, OPUS grant no. 2014/15/B/NZ3/04704
• 2015–2018: National Centre for Research and Development, Applied Research Programme no. PBS3/B7/19/2015