Substituted Piperidine OX2R Agonists for Narcolepsy Alertness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for narcolepsy and related sleep disorders, such as idiopathic hypersomnia and sleep apnea syndrome, lack effective orexin type 2 receptor (OX2R) agonists that can improve alertness and reduce symptoms.

Innovation Solution

Development of substituted piperidine compounds with OX2R-activating activity, including their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutical compositions, which can be administered orally or by injection, and used as chemical probes for target protein capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatments for narcolepsy are used, then patients receive existing therapeutic options, but effective OX2R agonists that can improve alertness and reduce symptoms are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of treatmentVSAvoidavailability of OX2R agonists
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically modifying the chemical structure of piperidine compounds through substitution at different positions (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 groups) to optimize OX2R agonist activity. This involves changing molecular parameters such as substituent types, positions, and configurations to achieve compounds with improved alertness and symptom reduction effects that were previously lacking in existing treatments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If substituted piperidine compounds are developed as OX2R agonists, then alertness improvement and symptom reduction are achieved, but the complexity of drug development and characterization increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymptom reduction effectVSAvoiddrug development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex drug development process into distinct stages: synthesis of substituted piperidine compounds, in vitro OX2R binding assays, in vivo pharmacological testing in narcolepsy models, and characterization of specific compounds ( Examples 1-4). This segmented approach manages development complexity by systematically progressing through controlled experimental stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses chemical probes as intermediaries to capture and characterize target proteins (OX2R). These probe compounds serve as mediators between the developed substituted piperidine agonists and the orexin receptor target, enabling detailed characterization of receptor-protein interactions without requiring direct administration of full therapeutic doses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If compounds are used for brain imaging and drug development, then target protein capture and characterization are enabled, but the need for multiple applications increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-use capabilityVSAvoidapplication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing substituted piperidine compounds that serve multiple functions: they act as OX2R agonists for treating narcolepsy and sleep disorders, serve as chemical probes for capturing and characterizing target proteins, and can be used for brain imaging applications. This multi-functional design reduces overall complexity by using a single compound class for multiple purposes rather than developing separate agents for each application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4151277B1Substituted piperidine compound and application thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 EISAI R&D MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4151277B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4151277B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4151277B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are compounds represented by the following formulas (I), (II), (III) and (IV) having orexin type 2 receptor-activating activity, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.