Complete Oral ER Antagonist Compositions for Brain Metastases

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for estrogen receptor (ER)-associated cancers, particularly brain metastases, are inadequate due to the inability of existing therapies like fulvestrant to cross the blood-brain barrier and achieve complete estrogen receptor antagonism, leading to poor oral bioavailability and ineffective treatment of brain tumors.

Innovation Solution

Development of complete estrogen receptor antagonists that are orally bioavailable and capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, such as compounds with specific structural features like pyrido[3,4-b]indole and azetidinyl groups, which provide comprehensive inhibition of both AF1 and AF2 activation functions and promote ER degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fulvestrant is used to treat ER-associated cancers, then complete estrogen receptor antagonism is achieved, but the drug cannot cross the blood-brain barrier and has poor oral bioavailability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete estrogen receptor antagonismVSAvoidinability to cross blood-brain barrier
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of fulvestrant by replacing the C-17β hydroxyl group with various substituents (aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl groups) to change the drug's physicochemical properties. This structural parameter change enables the compound to cross the blood-brain barrier while maintaining complete estrogen receptor antagonism, and improves oral bioavailability without sacrificing the reliable ER antagonistic effect

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If existing therapies are used to treat brain metastases, then treatment is provided, but invasive techniques like whole-brain radiotherapy and surgery are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidnon-invasive treatment availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical treatments (surgery and whole-brain radiotherapy) with a chemically-based solution. The modified fulvestrant compounds provide a non-invasive pharmacological approach that achieves complete estrogen receptor antagonism in the brain, substituting mechanical/invasive intervention with a molecular-level therapeutic mechanism

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

3Reliability

If first line therapies like tamoxifen are used, then ER antagonism is provided, but patients eventually develop resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial treatment effectivenessVSAvoidduration of therapeutic effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the structural feature responsible for resistance development. By replacing the C-17β hydroxyl group of fulvestrant with alternative substituents, the invention creates compounds that maintain complete ER antagonism without the limitations of previous therapies, providing a solution that overcomes the resistance issue while preserving initial treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite chemical structures by combining the core fulvestrant scaffold with various aryl, heteroaryl, and cycloalkyl groups. These composite molecular structures provide enhanced and sustained ER antagonism, preventing the development of resistance that occurs with simpler first-line therapies like tamoxifen

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4114391B1Compositions for use in a method of treating an estrogen receptor associated cancer
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 OLEMA PHARMACEUTICALS INC
  • EP4114391B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4114391B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4114391B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present disclosure provides methods of treating estrogen receptor-associated diseases, disorders, and conditions.