Phytoecdysone Composition for Strength Preservation During Immobilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Immobilization leads to significant muscle strength loss, which can result in functional consequences such as increased risk of falling and prolonged incapacity, particularly in the elderly, and existing preventive methods are difficult to implement or ineffective, especially in surgical patients.

Innovation Solution

The use of phytoecdysones and their derivatives, such as 20-hydroxyecdysone, in compositions like BIO101, administered orally to prevent muscle strength loss during immobilization by maintaining muscle function without an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If early active or passive remobilization programs are implemented to compensate for muscle damage, then muscle strength loss is reduced, but implementation difficulty increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemuscle strengthVSAvoidimplementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical remobilization programs with a chemical substance (phytoecdysone) that can be administered orally. This substitution eliminates the need for complex physical therapy protocols, specialized equipment, and coordinated rehabilitation programs, thereby reducing implementation complexity while maintaining muscle strength preservation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces phytoecdysone as an intermediary substance that mediates between immobilization and muscle strength preservation. This chemical mediator prevents muscle strength loss without requiring direct mechanical intervention or complex remobilization programs, simplifying the overall approach to preventing muscle damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If muscle electrostimulation is used to prevent muscle atrophy, then muscle function is maintained, but effectiveness decreases in patients with inexcitability of muscle membrane

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemuscle functionVSAvoideffectiveness reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses phytoecdysone as a chemical intermediary that acts on muscle cells through molecular mechanisms independent of electrical excitation. This approach bypasses the muscle membrane excitation step entirely, making it effective across all patient populations including those with membrane inexcitability, thereby improving reliability of muscle function maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical stimulation system with a biochemical system. Instead of using electrical currents to stimulate muscle contraction, the invention uses phytoecdysone to modulate molecular pathways within muscle cells, eliminating the limitation of electrical inexcitability and improving treatment reliability.

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

3Strength

If phytoecdysones are administered to prevent muscle strength loss, then muscle strength is preserved, but the mechanism is not anabolic effect on skeletal muscle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemuscle strengthVSAvoidmechanism specificity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and exploits specific parameter changes in muscle cell metabolism and signaling pathways that are induced by phytoecdysone. By targeting specific molecular parameters (such as protein synthesis pathways, autophagy regulation, and intracellular signaling) rather than relying on general anabolic effects, the invention achieves muscle strength preservation through a precise and adaptable mechanism that works independently of traditional anabolic steroids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3758709B1Phytoecdysones for use in the prevention of muscle strength loss during immobilisation
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 BIOPHYTIS
  • EP3758709B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP3758709B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3758709B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention concerns a composition comprising at least one phytoecdysone or at least one semi-synthetic derivative of a phytoecdysone, for use in mammals for preventing the loss of muscle strength during immobilisation. More particularly, the invention concerns a composition for use that comprises 20-hydroxyecdysone or a semi-synthetic derivative of 20-hydroxyecdysone. Moreover, the invention concerns a composition for use that comprises a compound of general formula (I).