DUOC-01 Cell Product and Hydrocortisone for Demyelinating Conditions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for demyelinating conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies, lack effective solutions for promoting remyelination and managing neuroinflammation, with limited understanding of human blood monocytes' role in brain injury repair.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical composition combining a DUOC-01 cell product, derived from cord blood mononuclear cells expressing specific macrophage and microglia markers, with an anti-inflammatory agent like hydrocortisone, administered intrathecally to enhance cell viability and promote remyelination in demyelinating conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatments for demyelinating conditions are used, then neuroinflammation is managed to some extent, but remyelination is not effectively promoted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremyelination promotionVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines DUOC-01 cell product (containing cord blood-derived mononuclear cells with macrophage and microglia characteristics) with hydrocortisone anti-inflammatory agent into a single pharmaceutical composition. This merging allows simultaneous delivery of remyelination-promoting cells and neuroinflammation-managing drug, resolving the contradiction by making both functions work together in one treatment formulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If DUOC-01 cell product is administered alone, then remyelination potential is maintained, but cell viability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell viabilityVSAvoidcomposition formulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Hydrocortisone acts as an intermediary substance that improves DUOC-01 cell viability and survival after administration. The anti-inflammatory agent mediates the protective effect on the cell product, reducing neuroinflammation that would otherwise harm the transplanted cells, thereby improving their viability without complicating the formulation significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If circulating blood monocytes are used to treat demyelinating conditions, then inflammation may be activated, but remyelination may be facilitated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual effect capabilityVSAvoidinflammation activation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cord blood-derived mononuclear cells that are differentiated into macrophage and microglia-like cells with specific local qualities - they exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and remyelination-promoting capabilities. By controlling the differentiation state and phenotype of the cells, the treatment achieves beneficial local effects in the CNS while avoiding the harmful systemic inflammation that would result from using circulating blood monocytes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11278575B2Compositions and methods for the treatment of demyelinating conditions

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 DUKE UNIV

AI summary

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating demyelinating conditions. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to compositions including DUOC-01 cell product and an anti-inflammatory agent; methods for preparing such compositions; and methods of using such compositions in combination or in conjunction with each other for treatment of treating demyelinating conditions.