Beta-Lactamase Composition for Oral Antibiotic Microbiome Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Antibiotics disrupt the gastrointestinal microbiome, leading to various disorders, and there is a need for agents that prevent this disruption without reducing the beneficial effects of antibiotics.

Innovation Solution

Administration of a pharmaceutical composition containing a beta-lactamase that deactivates residual oral antibiotics in the gastrointestinal tract, maintaining the balance of intestinal microbiota without interfering with systemic antibiotic absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oral antibiotics are administered to treat infections, then the beneficial anti-infective effects are achieved, but the gastrointestinal microbiome is disrupted leading to adverse effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-infective effectVSAvoidmicrobiome disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the treatment approach into two separate components: (1) systemic antibiotic administration for anti-infective effect, and (2) localized beta-lactamase administration in the GI tract to protect microbiota. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The beta-lactamase acts as an intermediary substance that neutralizes residual antibiotics in the GI tract. It serves as a mediator between the harmful antibiotic residues and the vulnerable microbiota, protecting the microbiome by degrading excess antibiotics while allowing therapeutic levels to maintain anti-infective effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If beta-lactamase is administered to deactivate residual antibiotics in the GI tract, then microbiome protection is achieved, but there is concern about interfering with systemic antibiotic absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobiome protectionVSAvoidsystemic antibiotic absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The beta-lactamase is administered locally to the GI tract where it deactivates residual antibiotics. The patent specifies that the beta-lactamase should be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract (orally, rectally, or via enteral tube) to create a localized protective effect without affecting systemic antibiotic levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The beta-lactamase is designed to act on excess or residual antibiotics that remain after the therapeutic effect has been achieved. The patent states that the beta-lactamase deactivates 'excess oral antibiotic residue' and 'residual active antibiotic,' implying it targets only the surplus portion needed for microbiome protection while leaving therapeutic levels intact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Duration of action of moving object

If residual oral antibiotics are allowed to remain in the GI tract, then complete antibiotic therapy is maintained, but ecological balance of intestinal microbiota is altered leading to disease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibiotic therapy durationVSAvoidmicrobiota ecological balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The beta-lactamase is administered periodically or adjacently with the antibiotic therapy to continuously neutralize residual antibiotics as they are excreted. The patent mentions that the beta-lactamase may be administered 'concurrently with or after the antibiotic' and that 'initial and/or adjunctive therapy' may be given, indicating a periodic or staged approach to microbiome protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful residual antibiotics into a beneficial protective mechanism. By administering beta-lactamase to deactivate residual antibiotics, the previously harmful substance (residual antibiotic) is transformed into a controlled process that protects the microbiome, turning the side effect into a managed therapeutic intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 beta-lactamase composition effectively prevents antibiotic-induced adverse effects and maintains a healthy balance of intestinal microbiota, treating or preventing disorders like Clostridium difficile infection and irritable bowel syndrome by deactivating excess antibiotics in the GI tract.

Implementation Method 1

the beta-lactamase is capable of deactivating the oral antibiotic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS11944669B2Method and compositions for inhibiting or preventing adverse effects of oral antibiotics

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 THERIVA BIOLOGICS INC

AI summary

This invention provides, in part, various compositions and methods for protecting the gastrointestinal microbiome from antibiotic disruption.