Antisense Oligonucleotide Mobilizing Leukemia Cells via Alpha4 Integrin Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have limited effectiveness in maximizing remission rates and prolonging remission duration, with a high relapse rate and poor five-year overall survival rate, and existing methods for mobilizing leukemia cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood are not sufficiently effective.

Innovation Solution

Administration of an antisense compound targeting α4 integrin, specifically a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide with 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) modifications and 5-methylcytosines, to inhibit α4 integrin expression, combined with chemotherapeutic or immune-oncolytic agents, to mobilize leukemia cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If generic chemotherapeutic agents are used for AML treatment, then treatment can be administered, but remission rates are limited and relapse rate is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremission rateVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular target parameter from generic chemotherapy to specific α4 integrin inhibition using antisense oligonucleotides. This parameter change enables more precise targeting of leukemia cells, resulting in improved remission rates and reduced relapse while maintaining treatment efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the non-specific mechanical action of generic chemotherapeutic agents with a molecular-level specific interaction. The antisense oligonucleotide binds to α4 integrin mRNA, preventing protein synthesis, thereby substituting broad-spectrum chemical toxicity with targeted molecular inhibition to improve treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If leukemia cells are kept in bone marrow, then disease is contained, but treatment access is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment accessVSAvoiddisease containment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using α4 integrin inhibition to proactively mobilize leukemia cells from the bone marrow before treatment administration. This preliminary mobilization step makes leukemia cells more accessible to therapeutic agents, improving treatment access while the continued inhibition maintains disease containment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses α4 integrin as an intermediary mechanism to facilitate communication between bone marrow-resident leukemia cells and the peripheral blood/treatment system. By inhibiting this adhesion molecule, the patent creates a controlled transition that enables treatment access while maintaining therapeutic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If α4 integrin is inhibited, then leukemia cell mobilization is achieved, but CD49d expression decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell mobilizationVSAvoidCD49d expression
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and inhibits the α4 integrin (CD49d) component specifically from the leukemia cell surface through antisense oligonucleotide-mediated mRNA degradation. This extraction of the adhesion function enables cell mobilization by removing the molecular barrier to circulation, while the decrease in CD49d expression is the intended therapeutic effect rather than a side effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The approach effectively mobilizes leukemia cells to the peripheral blood, potentially enhancing treatment outcomes for AML by improving the efficacy of chemotherapy and immune-oncologic therapies, as demonstrated by increased cell mobilization and decreased CD49d expression in preclinical models.

Implementation Method 1

The antisense compound is an antisense oligonucleotide fully complementary over the entirety of said oligonucleotide to a nucleic acid encoding human α4 integrin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHybridization:

Implementation Method 2

the oligonucleotide consists of a 2' deoxynucleotide region flanked on both 5' and 3' ends with one or more 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) modified ribonucleotides, one or more phosphorothioates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhosphorothioate linkage:

Data Source

PatentEP3370734B1Antisense oligo for use in treating acute myeloid leukemia
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 ANTISENSE THERAPEUTICS LTD
  • EP3370734B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3370734B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3370734B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A method for mobilizing leukemia cells which are α4 integrin positive to the peripheral blood of a human subject, the method comprising administering to the human subject an effective amount of an antisense compound to α4 integrin. The cells may be mobilized from bone marrow. The antisense compound is: 5' - MeCMeUG AGT MeCTG TTT MeUMeCMeC AMeUMeU MeCMeU - 3' wherein, (a) each of the 19 internucleotide linkages of the oligonucleotide is an O,O-linked phosphorothioate diester; (b) the nucleotides at the positions 1 to 3 from the 5' end are 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) modified ribonucleosides; (c) the nucleotides at the positions 4 to 12 from the 5' end are 2'- deoxyribonucleosides; (d) the nucleotides at the positions 13 to 20 from the 5' end are 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) modified ribonucleosides; and (e) all cytosines are 5- methylcytosines (MeC), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.