DPP-IV Inhibitors for Autoimmune Liver Disease With Fewer Side Effects

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for autoimmune liver diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are either ineffective or associated with significant side effects, and there is a need for more efficient therapeutic options to prevent or slow the progression of these diseases.

Innovation Solution

The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, including compounds like alogliptin, saxagliptin, and sitagliptin, to treat or prevent autoimmune liver diseases by inhibiting the enzyme's activity, thereby modulating immune responses and reducing inflammation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional immunosuppressive treatment (prednisone) is used to treat autoimmune hepatitis, then disease progression is slowed or stopped, but serious side effects occur including diabetes, weakened bones, high blood pressure, cataracts, glaucoma, and weight gain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease progression controlVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the therapeutic parameter from traditional immunosuppressants (prednisone) to DPP-IV inhibitors (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, alogliptin, linagliptin). This parameter substitution maintains disease control effectiveness while eliminating the metabolic and structural side effects associated with corticosteroid therapy, as DPP-IV inhibitors work through a different mechanism (inhibiting peptide degradation rather than broad immunosuppression)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces DPP-IV inhibitors as an intermediary substance that mediates the treatment effect. These compounds selectively inhibit the degradation of specific peptides (like GLP-1) involved in immune regulation, providing a more targeted approach compared to prednisone's broad immunosuppression, thereby achieving therapeutic effect with reduced harmful impact on bone, metabolic, and ocular systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If no treatment is used for chronic cholestatic liver diseases (PBC, PSC), then the diseases progress to cirrhosis and hepatic failure, but current available treatments are ineffective or have significant side effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease progression preventionVSAvoidtreatment adverse effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter change by switching from ineffective or harmful treatments to DPP-IV inhibitors for chronic cholestatic diseases. Clinical data in the patent shows that DPP-IV inhibitors significantly improve liver function tests (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT) and reduce inflammatory markers in PBC and PSC patients, providing effective disease progression prevention without the severe side effects of traditional immunosuppressants

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs DPP-IV inhibitors which are established, well-characterized compounds already approved for diabetes treatment. This approach uses known safe medications (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, alogliptin, linagliptin) rather than developing entirely new compounds, thereby reducing development risk and leveraging existing safety profiles while treating previously untreatable progressive liver diseases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

DPP-IV inhibitors effectively treat and prevent autoimmune liver diseases with reduced side effects, potentially slowing disease progression and improving patient outcomes without the adverse effects associated with traditional immunosuppressive treatments.

Implementation Method 1

The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors, including compounds like alogliptin, saxagliptin, and sitagliptin, to treat or prevent autoimmune liver diseases by inhibiting the enzyme's activity, thereby modulating immune responses and reducing inflammation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme inhibition: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP4686474A1DPP-iv inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of autoimmune liver diseases
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 DELTA 4 GMBH
  • EP4686474A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4686474A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4686474A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme for use in treating or preventing autoimmune liver diseases and to a composition for use in treating or preventing autoimmune liver diseases comprising at least one inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme.