Ketamine Adjunct Therapy for 5-FU-Induced Cachexia

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for cachexia caused by 5-FU in cancer patients are ineffective in preventing muscle wasting and weight loss, and there is a need for a drug that can improve survival rates and alleviate symptoms.

Innovation Solution

Administering a therapeutically effective amount of ketamine, ranging from 1-100 mg/60 kg per week, either alone or in combination with 5-FU, to treat cachexia in patients receiving 5-FU treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If 5-FU is used to treat cancer, then cancer treatment effectiveness is improved, but cachexia symptoms (weight loss, muscle wasting) worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecancer treatment effectivenessVSAvoidcachexia symptoms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Ketamine is introduced as a mediator substance that intervenes in the harmful metabolic effects of 5-FU. The patent administers ketamine to cancer patients receiving 5-FU treatment to block the development of cachexia symptoms while maintaining the anticancer efficacy of 5-FU, thus resolving the contradiction between effective cancer treatment and harmful cachexia side effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If nutritional intake is increased to treat cachexia, then food intake is improved, but weight loss continues and cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenutritional intakeVSAvoidweight loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful metabolic state of cachexia into a treatable condition by using ketamine to block the underlying inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Instead of merely trying to compensate for weight loss through increased nutrition, ketamine addresses the root cause of the metabolic dysfunction, allowing nutritional intake to be effectively utilized for weight maintenance and gain

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If current supportive therapies are used for cachexia, then symptom relief is provided, but the underlying syndrome cannot be effectively improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymptom reliefVSAvoidsyndrome improvement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of treating cachexia symptoms through conventional supportive care approaches (appetite stimulants, nutritional support), the patent inverts the approach by using ketamine to block the inflammatory and metabolic pathways that cause cachexia in the first place. This addresses the underlying syndrome mechanism rather than merely managing symptoms, providing both symptom relief and effective syndrome improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4090326B1Use of ketamine in the treatment of cachexia
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 ASTROMEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an use of ketamine in the treatment of cachexia, wherein the ketamine is administered to a subject who is treated with 5-FU and the dose amount of ketamine is about 60% to 5-FU. Specifically, the ketamine in the present invention is used to elevate the survival rate and improve the reduction of weight caused by cachexia.