CD47-Binding Therapeutic Conjugates for RBC-Mediated API Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cancer cells, virus-infected cells, and fibrotic cells evade immune surveillance by overexpressing CD47, which inhibits phagocytosis and immune response, necessitating a targeted therapeutic approach to block CD47 signaling and deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to these cells.

Innovation Solution

A therapeutic compound is developed comprising a CD47-binding protein conjugated to an API, allowing it to bind to CD47 on red blood cells, transport to target cells, form a conjugate-CD47 complex, and be internalized via endocytosis, thereby blocking CD47 activity and delivering the API into the target cell.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CD47 is blocked to inhibit immune escape, then immune response is enhanced, but delivery of therapeutic agents to target cells is impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmune response enhancementVSAvoiddelivery of therapeutic agents

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs CD47 as an intermediary carrier protein that mediates the delivery of therapeutic agents (APIs) to target cells. The CD47-binding protein conjugated to the API binds to CD47 on red blood cells, which then transport the conjugate to target cells where it is internalized via endocytosis. This intermediary mechanism enables both CD47 blocking for immune response enhancement and simultaneous delivery of therapeutic agents to the same target cells.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If CD47-binding protein is conjugated to API for targeted delivery, then API delivery to target cell is improved, but compound complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAPI delivery efficiencyVSAvoidcompound structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The therapeutic compound is segmented into distinct functional modules: a CD47-binding protein component that mediates binding and transport, and an API component that provides the therapeutic effect. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall functionality, reducing the complexity burden compared to designing a single monolithic molecule with all functions integrated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The CD47-binding protein serves multiple functions simultaneously: it binds to CD47 on red blood cells for transport, binds to CD47 on target cells for delivery, and facilitates internalization via endocytosis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall compound complexity while maintaining high API delivery efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If conjugate is internalized via endocytosis to deliver API, then API delivery into target cell is achieved, but CD47 binding specificity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAPI delivery into target cellVSAvoidCD47 binding specificity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The CD47-binding protein exhibits different binding characteristics at different locations: on red blood cells, it mediates transport through the circulatory system, while on target cells, it facilitates endocytic internalization. This local quality differentiation allows the same protein to perform distinct functions at different stages without compromising CD47 binding specificity, as the binding interface remains consistent while the downstream fate of the conjugate varies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 compound effectively inhibits immune escape mechanisms of target cells, enhancing immune response and delivering therapeutic agents to treat cancers, viral infections, and fibrotic diseases by blocking CD47 activity and facilitating API uptake.

Implementation Method 1

the CD47-binding protein is configured to bind the conjugate to CD47 of a red blood cell of the subject so as to enable transport of the conjugate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBinding interaction:

Implementation Method 2

the conjugate is taken up by the target cell via endocytosis of the conjugate-CD47 complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEndocytosis:

Data Source

PatentUS20260015618A1Therapeutic Compounds for Red Blood Cell-Mediated Delivery of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient to a Target Cell

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 K2B THERAPEUTICS INC

AI summary

Therapeutic compounds for red blood cell-mediated delivery of an active pharmaceutical ingredient to a target cell are described. The therapeutic compounds are configured to bind CD47 on the surface of a red blood cell and to be subsequently transferred to CD47 on the surface of the target cell, the therapeutic compound ultimately being internalized by the target cell via endocytosis. The target cell may be a cancer cell.