Immunomic Therapeutics Inc.'s flagship technology has been approved for patent protection, the company said.

The Lancaster-based biotechnology firm received a "notice of allowance" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The company's patent application covers the technology involved in its DNA vaccine. The vaccine uses a proprietary genetically engineered delivery system — known as the LAMP platform, with LAMP being an acronym for Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein — to create an enhanced immune response.

Notices of allowance are sent to applicants entitled to patents; the patent is issued once the applicant pays the appropriate fees, according to the Patent Office's website.

Immunomic is developing a vaccine for Japanese red cedar that it hopes to commercialize. Phase one clinical trials are under way in Atlanta, with completion expected this fall.

"This notice of allowance represents a great day for the LAMP vaccine platform technology and ensures protection of our LAMP technology until 2022," Immunomic's vice president of research and development, Dr. Teri Heiland, said in a statement.