A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonists for Neuropathic Pain Relief

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for chronic neuropathic pain are poorly efficacious and often associated with serious side effects, with opioids not being the first line of treatment due to addiction liability and antinociceptive tolerance issues, necessitating a new mechanism for effective pain relief without dependence.

Innovation Solution

Development of specific compounds that activate the A3 adenosine receptor, offering both peripheral and central mechanistic components for pain relief, with favorable physicochemical properties for oral bioavailability and crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If opioids are used for chronic neuropathic pain treatment, then pain relief is achieved, but addiction liability and antinociceptive tolerance develop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepain relief efficacyVSAvoidaddiction liability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pharmacological parameter from opioid receptor activation to A3 adenosine receptor activation. This fundamental parameter change allows achieving pain relief through a different mechanism that does not trigger addiction pathways or antinociceptive tolerance, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces A3 adenosine receptor agonists as an intermediary mechanism between the patient and pain relief. Instead of directly activating opioid receptors, the compounds activate adenosine receptors which indirectly modulate pain pathways, providing analgesia without the harmful side effects of direct opioid action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If A3 adenosine receptor agonists are designed for oral bioavailability, then molecular weight is reduced, but crossing the blood-brain barrier becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoral bioavailabilityVSAvoidblood-brain barrier penetration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes molecular weight parameters to fall within the ideal range for oral bioavailability (less than 500 Daltons). This parameter change simultaneously improves absorption while the compounds' specific structural features and lipophilicity properties enable sufficient blood-brain barrier penetration for central analgesic effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3074398B1A3 adenosine receptor agonists
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 SAINT LOUIS UNIV
  • EP3074398B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3074398B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2
  • EP3074398B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are compounds of the formula (I) and (II) which are A3 adenosine receptor agonists, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and a method of use of these compounds, wherein X, Y, Z, R2-R6, and R103-R106 are as defined in the specification. These compounds are selective to the A3 receptor, and are contemplated for use in the treatment or prevention of a number of diseases or conditions, for example, neuropathic pain.