Microbial Consortium Composition for Checkpoint Inhibitor Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cancer treatments, particularly immune checkpoint blockade therapies, have limited efficacy due to variations in patient responsiveness, necessitating the development of microbial consortia that can modulate the immune system to enhance treatment outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A microbial consortium comprising specific microorganisms, including Oenococcus oeni, Clostridium cellulovorans, Cetobacterium somerae, and Corynebacterium glyciniphilum, administered in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor like an anti-PD-1 inhibitor, to induce a pro-inflammatory immune response and treat cancers such as breast, lung, pancreatic, bladder, melanoma, kidney, head and neck, and lymphoma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If immune checkpoint blockade therapy is used to treat cancer, then cancer treatment is provided, but limited efficacy is observed due to variations in patient responsiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidpatient responsiveness variation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a microbial consortium as an intermediary agent between the immune checkpoint blockade therapy and the patient's immune system. This consortium, comprising specific bacterial strains, modulates the immune system to enhance responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors, thereby improving treatment efficacy across varying patient populations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the immunological parameters of the patient's system by introducing microbial consortia with specific compositions. These microbial agents alter immune system state and responsiveness, transforming the baseline conditions to improve checkpoint blockade therapy outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the immune system is stimulated to enhance cancer treatment, then treatment efficacy is improved, but pro-inflammatory effects may cause harm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidpro-inflammatory effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful pro-inflammatory effects into beneficial anti-tumor immunity. By carefully selecting microbial consortium compositions, the induced inflammation is directed toward cancer cells, transforming what could be tissue-damaging inflammation into targeted anti-cancer immune responses.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by directing inflammatory responses specifically to tumor sites rather than causing systemic inflammation. The microbial consortium induces localized pro-inflammatory effects at the cancer location while maintaining gut barrier integrity, thereby concentrating therapeutic benefit where needed while minimizing harmful side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3946391B1Microbial consortium and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 BIOMICA LTD
  • EP3946391B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3946391B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E
  • EP3946391B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a microbial consortium comprising two or more microorganisms, compositions and kits comprising the same and uses thereof for treating cancer.