Cathepsin B Inhibitor Compounds for Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapeutic strategies fail to effectively treat diseases associated with impaired β-galactosidase activity, particularly in the central nervous system, due to the inability of compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier and the lack of specificity towards cathepsin B inhibition.

Innovation Solution

Development of new cathepsin B inhibitors with specific chemical structures that enhance absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, allowing them to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and inhibit cathepsin B, thereby addressing the underlying enzyme deficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional therapeutic compounds are used, then they can be administered systemically, but they fail to cross the blood-brain barrier and treat central nervous system symptoms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectiveness in CNSVSAvoidinability to cross blood-brain barrier
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies molecular parameters of cathepsin B inhibitors to enhance their lipophilicity and reduce molecular weight, enabling them to cross the blood-brain barrier. Specific structural modifications include optimizing the balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of the molecules to achieve appropriate brain penetration while maintaining inhibitory activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If cathepsin B inhibitors are developed with enhanced brain penetration, then they can treat CNS symptoms, but they may lose specificity and inhibit other enzymes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to cross blood-brain barrierVSAvoidlack of enzyme specificity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces specific local structural features in the inhibitor molecules that target the unique active site architecture of cathepsin B. These include specific S1 and S2 pocket interactions through tailored amino acid side chains that form hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions exclusively with cathepsin B residues, ensuring selective inhibition despite enhanced brain penetration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If existing compounds are used to inhibit cathepsin B, then they show some inhibitory activity, but they lack optimal drug-likeness properties for effective therapy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecathepsin B inhibitory activityVSAvoiddrug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically optimizes multiple molecular parameters simultaneously including molecular weight (150-500 Da), logP (1-4), hydrogen bond donors (0-3), and hydrogen bond acceptors (0-5) to achieve ideal drug-like properties. The compounds are designed with appropriate metabolic stability features and reduced toxicity risk while maintaining potent cathepsin B inhibition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 new cathepsin B inhibitors effectively treat diseases like GM-1 gangliosidosis and Morquio syndrome type B by improving drug-likeness and crossing the blood-brain barrier, providing therapeutic benefits for conditions previously untreatable with existing compounds.

Implementation Method 1

new cathepsin B inhibitors, which are effective in therapy... inhibit cathepsin B

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme inhibition: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

crossing the blood-brain barrier... providing therapeutic benefits for conditions previously untreatable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBlood-brain barrier penetration: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP4463445B1Compounds and use thereof for the treatment of diseases associated with impaired ?-galactosidase activity
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 DORPHAN SA
  • EP4463445B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4463445B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4463445B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to new cathepsin B inhibitors, which are effective in therapy, and in particular in the treatment of diseases associated with an impaired activity of the β-galactosidase, such as GM-1 gangliosidosis, Morquio syndrome type B, Chediak-Higashi Syndrome, Galactosialidosis, Metachromatic leukodystrophy, Gaucher Disease, Alzheimer disease and traumatic brain injury.