Intralymphatic Cellular Therapy for Autoimmune Disorders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders, such as Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, are often ineffective and come with significant side effects, as they fail to specifically modulate the immune response and inflammatory processes, leading to chronic symptoms and tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

Administering mesenchymal stem cells, regulatory T-cells, or fibroblast cells directly into the lymphatic system through intralymphatic injection to target and modulate the immune response, thereby treating, preventing, or ameliorating symptoms associated with inflammatory and immune disorders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If immunosuppressive agents are administered to treat autoimmune diseases, then the autoimmune disease symptoms are suppressed, but the patient becomes more susceptible to infections and tumors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautoimmune disease symptomsVSAvoidpatient defense against infections and tumors
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by targeting specific immune cells (autoreactive T cells, B cells, dendritic cells) with immunomodulatory compounds rather than suppressing the entire immune system. This selective modulation allows treatment of autoimmune symptoms while preserving protective immune functions against infections and tumors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses immunomodulatory compounds as intermediaries that selectively bind to and modulate specific immune cell types and signaling pathways. These compounds act as mediators between the harmful autoimmune response and the protective immune functions, allowing differentiation and selective suppression of pathogenic immunity while preserving protective immunity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If current therapies for inflammatory disorders are used, then some symptom relief is achieved, but the treatment is nonspecific and causes multiple adverse side effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinflammatory symptomsVSAvoidadverse side effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs local quality by designing therapies that specifically target inflammatory pathways and immune cell subsets involved in the disease process. Different compounds are selected based on the specific disease mechanism (e.g., anti-TNF for Crohn's, immunosuppressants for rheumatoid arthritis), allowing tailored treatment that reduces inflammation while minimizing off-target effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying immune response parameters selectively - suppressing specific cytokine production, altering immune cell activation thresholds, or changing antigen presentation mechanisms - rather than globally suppressing all immune functions. This allows precise control of the therapeutic effect and reduction of adverse side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If cellular therapy is delivered systemically, then the cells can reach the lymphatic system, but the delivery efficiency and targeting precision are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell delivery to lymphatic systemVSAvoidtargeting precision to lymphatic system
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the lymphatic system itself as an intermediary pathway for delivering immunomodulatory cells. By injecting cells into lymph nodes or lymphatic vessels, the therapy leverages the natural lymphatic flow to distribute cells to relevant lymphoid tissues throughout the body, achieving both efficient delivery and precise targeting of immune-responsive organs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning immunomodulatory cells within the lymphatic system before the immune response fully develops. This allows the cells to be strategically placed in lymph nodes where they can immediately interact with antigen-presenting cells and initiate immunomodulation at the site of immune activation, rather than relying on systemic circulation to deliver cells after inflammation has already occurred.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2451943B1Methods and compositions for use in cellular therapies
Publication Date: 2016.11.23 TIGENIX SAU
  • EP2451943B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention provides methods for the intralymphatic administration of cellular therapies. Further aspects of the invention provide compositions, kits and uses thereof related to such methods.