Artemisinin Compounds for Beta Cell Mass and Insulin Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for diabetes, particularly Type 1, face challenges in effectively increasing insulin production and beta cell mass due to limitations in donor islets, immunological complications, and the need for regenerative approaches that are not highly effective.

Innovation Solution

The use of an artemisinin compound, specifically designed to increase insulin expression and beta cell number, which is administered in various forms and combined with other anti-diabetic therapies or immunomodulatory drugs to enhance pancreatic cell function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If pancreatic islet transplantation is performed to increase beta cell mass, then insulin production is improved, but immunological complications and transplant survival limitations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeta cell massVSAvoidtransplant survival
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs the patient's own induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that are differentiated into pancreatic beta cells in vitro and then transplanted back into the same patient. This autologous approach eliminates immunological rejection and improves transplant survival, while still achieving the goal of increasing beta cell mass and insulin production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If donor islets are used for transplantation, then beta cell mass is increased, but availability of donor islets is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeta cell massVSAvoiddonor islet availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates copies of functional beta cells by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into pancreatic beta cells in vitro. These cultured beta cells serve as substitutes for donor islets, eliminating the limitation of donor availability while providing sufficient quantities for transplantation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) which can be generated from various patient cell types (skin, blood, etc.) and then differentiated into multiple cell types including pancreatic beta cells. This multi-functionality of iPSCs provides a universal source that overcomes donor islet availability limitations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3129019B1Medical use of artemisinin compounds and gephyrin agonists
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 CEMM FORSCHUNGZENTRUM FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN GMBH
  • EP3129019B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1g
  • EP3129019B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2d
  • EP3129019B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention refers to BTBD9 binders and gephyrin binders for medical use and in particular an artemisinin compound of general formula I for use in the treatment of a diabetes patient, as well as a method of identifying suitable lead candidates.