Integrin αvβ6 Autoantibody Removal for Colitis Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis are inadequate and associated with significant side effects, as they target molecules present in both diseased and healthy individuals, necessitating a novel approach with reduced side effects.

Innovation Solution

Targeting and removing anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies and B cells that are specifically produced in patients with ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis, using a system that includes a solid carrier with integrin αvβ6 protein to adsorb these antibodies, thereby inhibiting their binding to fibronectin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-TNFα antibodies are used to treat ulcerative colitis, then therapeutic effect is improved, but side effects such as infections and malignant tumors increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidside effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies from the patient's body using a column containing integrin αvβ6 protein as an adsorbent. This selectively removes the pathogenic antibodies responsible for disease pathology while leaving the rest of the immune system intact, thereby achieving therapeutic effect without the broad immunosuppression side effects associated with anti-TNFα antibodies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrin αvβ6 protein on the column acts as an intermediary that specifically binds and removes the pathogenic autoantibodies. This intermediary approach allows selective targeting of the harmful antibodies without affecting normal immune functions, resolving the contradiction between therapeutic efficacy and side effect profile

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional medical treatments are used for ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, then symptom management is improved, but long-term cure is not achieved and side effects accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymptom managementVSAvoidlong-term cure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the root cause of the disease - the pathogenic anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies - from the patient's system. By removing these specific antibodies rather than merely managing symptoms, the treatment addresses the underlying pathology and achieves long-term cure potential while avoiding the cumulative side effects of chronic medication

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If anti-TNFα antibodies suppress TNFα function, then ulcerative colitis treatment effect is improved, but immune system functions including infection defense and anti-tumor action are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveulcerative colitis treatment effectVSAvoidimmune system impairment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes only the specific pathogenic anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies from the patient's blood using integrin αvβ6 protein as a selective adsorbent. This targeted removal approach eliminates the harmful antibodies that cause disease while preserving all other immune system functions including infection defense and anti-tumor surveillance, avoiding the broad immunosuppression caused by anti-TNFα therapy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment applies local quality by specifically targeting and removing only the pathogenic anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies rather than suppressing the entire immune system. The integrin αvβ6 column provides selective action on the harmful antibodies while leaving other immune components unaffected, achieving local precision in immune modulation

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

This approach effectively treats ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis with minimal side effects by specifically targeting pathogenic autoantibodies, providing a novel therapeutic means for patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Implementation Method 1

using a system that includes a solid carrier with integrin αvβ6 protein to adsorb these antibodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4631545A1Method for treating ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 LINK THERAPEUTICS INC
  • EP4631545A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4631545A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4631545A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are, inter alia, a system for treating ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis including a means for removing anti-integrin αvβ6 antibodies or anti-integrin αvβ6 antibody-producing B-cells that produce the anti-integrin αvβ6 antibodies, the anti-integrin αvβ6 antibodies having an activity of competing with fibronectin for binding to integrin αvβ6 and being specifically produced in patients having ulcerative colitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis.