TransCode Therapeutics Announces Patent Advancements in Australia and Japan Strengthening Global IP Position in RNA-Based Immuno-Oncology

Allowances of Patent Applications in Australia and Japan support differentiated RNA platform for targeted cancer therapy and immune modulation

BOSTON, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAZ), a clinical stage company pioneering immuno-oncology and RNA for the treatment of high risk and advanced cancer, today announced significant advancements in its global intellectual property portfolio, highlighted by (i) the acceptance of an Australian patent application and (ii) the issuance of a Notice of Allowance from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for key technologies underpinning its RNA-based therapeutic platform.

IP Australia issued a Notice of Acceptance for Patent Application No. 2019349817, titled "Compositions and Methods for Immune Checkpoint Inhibition". The application covers therapeutic nanoparticle compositions designed to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules for the treatment of cancer.

The allowed claims encompass nanoparticles comprising an iron oxide core, a dextran polymer coating, and a recited covalently linked siRNA, along with pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use across a broad range of cancers, including colon, lung, breast, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers.

In Japan, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) issued a Notice of Allowance, and subsequently granted and issued Japanese Patent No. 7886877, for Patent Application No. 2023-540752, titled "Template Directed Immunomodulation for Cancer Therapy." The application is directed to novel RNA-based immunomodulatory compositions, including single-stranded 5′ triphosphate-modified RNA oligonucleotides designed to selectively activate innate immune pathways such as RIG-I within tumors and the tumor microenvironment.

The allowed Japanese claims are related to compositions targeting cancers expressing miR-21, as well as nanoparticle-enabled delivery approaches incorporating magnetic or polymer-coated systems to enhance tumor targeting and cellular uptake.

"These milestones reflect the continued expansion and strengthening of our intellectual property portfolio in strategically important global markets," said Philippe P. Calais, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of TransCode Therapeutics. "This provides additional support to our delivery platform and our emerging immuno-oncology capabilities, reinforcing our ability to develop differentiated RNA therapeutics designed to address critical unmet needs in cancer."

"These patent developments highlight the breadth of innovation underlying our platform," said Zdravka Medarova, Ph.D., Co-founder and CSO. "By integrating precise RNA design with targeted delivery technologies, we are advancing a new class of therapeutics designed to silence oncogenic drivers and activate innate immune pathways directly within tumors. We believe this dual approach represents a powerful potential to improve outcomes for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers."

The Australian patent application is expected to proceed to grant with a projected expiry date of September 6, 2039.

Collectively, these developments further strengthen TransCode's global IP estate which encompasses its RNA-based therapeutic candidates, including TTX-MC138, and underscore the Company's commitment to advancing innovative approaches that combine gene silencing and immune activation to treat cancer.

About TransCode Therapeutics 

TransCode Therapeutics is an immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapy company with a focus on treating advanced malignancy.  The Company's lead therapeutic candidate, TTX-MC138, is focused on treating metastatic tumors that overexpress microRNA-10b, a unique, well-documented biomarker of metastasis. In addition, TransCode has a portfolio of other first-in-class therapeutic candidates designed to mobilize the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements concerning the timing, and results of TransCode's patent applications, and statements concerning the therapeutic potential of TransCode's therapeutic candidates. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with drug discovery and development; the risk that the results of clinical trials will not be consistent with TransCode's preclinical studies or expectations or with results from previous clinical trials; risks associated with the conduct of clinical trials; risks associated with TransCode's financial condition and its need to obtain additional funding to support its business activities, including TransCode's ability to continue as a going concern; risks associated with the timing and outcome of TransCode's planned regulatory submissions; risks associated with obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property; risks associated with TransCode's ability to enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from third parties; risks of competition from other companies developing products for similar uses; risks associated with TransCode's dependence on third parties; and risks associated with geopolitical events and pandemics. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause TransCode's actual results to differ from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in TransCode's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in any subsequent TransCode filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release; TransCode undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. 

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SOURCE TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.