CPP-Exendin-4 Peptide Conjugates for Blood-Brain Barrier Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's face challenges due to the blood-brain barrier's limitation on drug delivery, particularly for macromolecules and small molecules, necessitating the development of novel formulations that can effectively deliver therapeutic agents without cytotoxicity.

Innovation Solution

A peptide represented by the amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, formed by conjugating exendin-4 with a cell-penetrating peptide (ACP2 or ACP4), enhances blood-brain barrier permeability, prolongs half-life, and suppresses inflammatory markers like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα while increasing Arg-1 expression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional drug delivery methods are used to treat neurodegenerative diseases, then therapeutic agents can be administered, but the blood-brain barrier severely limits the transport of substances including macromolecules and small molecules into brain tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidblood-brain barrier limitation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) as intermediary carriers to facilitate the transport of therapeutic macromolecules across the blood-brain barrier. The CPPs form complexes with the therapeutic agents, enabling them to penetrate the BBB through transcytosis while maintaining the integrity of the barrier. This intermediary approach allows effective delivery of proteins and other large molecules that would otherwise be blocked by the BBB.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite formulations by conjugating cell-penetrating peptides with therapeutic macromolecules. These composite structures combine the BBB-penetrating capability of the CPPs with the therapeutic activity of the macromolecules, achieving both barrier penetration and therapeutic effectiveness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If cell-permeable peptides are used to improve blood-brain barrier permeability, then delivery of macromolecules is enhanced, but the peptide must be designed to achieve both permeability and therapeutic effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood-brain barrier permeabilityVSAvoidpeptide design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the peptide structure into distinct functional segments: a cell-penetrating peptide portion that facilitates BBB crossing and a therapeutic payload portion that provides the desired biological activity. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cell-penetrating peptide component serves multiple functions: it acts as a BBB penetrant, a cellular transporter, and a protective carrier for the therapeutic macromolecule. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall delivery system.

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

3Reliability

If therapeutic agents are delivered to the brain, then treatment effects are achieved, but the half-life of the peptide in blood circulation is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic actionVSAvoidpeptide half-life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary modification of the therapeutic agent by conjugating it with cell-penetrating peptides before administration. This preliminary complex formation protects the macromolecule from rapid degradation and clearance, extending its circulation half-life while maintaining the ability to penetrate the BBB and exert therapeutic effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 peptide achieves enhanced delivery and accumulation at inflamed brain regions, effectively suppressing inflammation and treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases by improving BBB permeability and half-life, with ACP4-exendin-4 showing superior anti-inflammatory effects.

Implementation Method 1

cell-permeable peptides (CPPs) have attracted attention for their ability to improve the utilization of macromolecules-such as therapeutic proteins and genes-that have been difficult to use as drugs due to poor membrane permeability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCell-penetrating peptide transport: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

enhancing delivery and accumulation at the site of action, particularly inflammatory regions within the brain. It may also prolong the peptide's half-life in blood circulation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPharmacokinetic extension:

Implementation Method 3

the peptide or pharmaceutical composition of the present invention exhibits high permeability through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thereby enhancing delivery and accumulation at the site of action, particularly inflammatory regions within the brain. It may also prolong the peptide's half-life in blood circulation and improve inflammatory conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-inflammatory action:

Data Source

PatentEP4656652A1Novel brain disease therapeutic and use thereof
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 AVIXGEN
  • EP4656652A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4656652A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4656652A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel brain disease therapeutic and a use thereof. A peptide or pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention can increase the level of delivery to a target site (in particular, inflamed areas of the brain) due to having a high blood-brain barrier penetration level, can have an increased half-life in the bloodstream, and can exhibit anti-inflammatory activity and treat or prevent brain diseases by reducing the level of inflammation.