Iron Succinate Oral Formulation for Poor Iron Absorption in HFrEF

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Solution Overview

Problem

Patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) suffer from poor iron absorption and increased inflammatory response, leading to ineffective oral iron supplementation and high costs associated with intravenous treatments.

Innovation Solution

Oral administration of iron succinate tablets, formulated as a powder, tablet, capsule, or granulate, in doses ranging from 5 to 1000 mg, administered once or twice daily for 3 weeks to 6 months, without food, to improve iron uptake.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If oral iron supplementation is administered to patients with heart failure, then convenience and cost are improved, but iron absorption and treatment effectiveness deteriorate due to poor absorption and increased hepcidin levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of treatmentVSAvoidiron absorption effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical form of iron from conventional salts to iron succinate, and adjusts the dosage parameters (5-1000 mg per dose, administered once or twice daily) to optimize absorption in heart failure patients despite elevated hepcidin levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent promotes use of inexpensive oral iron succinate tablets as a disposable, self-administered treatment that replaces costly intravenous therapy, making treatment accessible while maintaining effectiveness through optimized formulation

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

2Reliability

If intravenous ferric carboxymaltose therapy is used, then iron supplementation effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveiron supplementation effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive intravenous injection system with an oral administration system using iron succinate tablets, eliminating needles and infusion equipment while maintaining treatment effectiveness through optimized oral formulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes expensive intravenous therapy with inexpensive oral tablets that can be self-administered, reducing healthcare system costs and treatment complexity while maintaining clinical effectiveness

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

3Quantity of substance

If high-dose oral iron polysaccharides are administered, then iron dosage is increased, but exercise capacity and iron deposit uptake do not improve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveiron dosageVSAvoidexercise capacity improvement
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses iron succinate, a specific chemical compound with optimized properties for absorption, rather than generic iron polysaccharides. The succinate component appears to enhance absorption efficiency, allowing effective dosing without the dosage escalation that failed in previous studies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the dosage parameters and administration frequency (once or twice daily) of iron succinate to achieve effective iron repletion and exercise capacity improvement, correcting the inadequate dosing regimen used in previous failed studies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12458666B2Oral administration of iron succinate for use in treating iron deficiency in patients having heart failure
Publication Date: 2025.11.04 DOUBLE BOND PHARMA

AI summary

The present invention provides an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising iron succinate for use in treating iron deficiency in a subject diagnosed with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and a method for treatment is also provided.