Pirfenidone and PDE4B Inhibitor Combination for Better PF-ILD Tolerability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF-ILD), such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), either nintedanib or pirfenidone, can only slow down disease progression but not stop or reverse symptoms, and their combination leads to significant gastrointestinal side effects, reducing patient compliance.

Innovation Solution

A combination therapy of a PDE4B inhibitor of formula III administered at 18 mg twice daily with either nintedanib or pirfenidone, in therapeutically effective doses, to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing gastrointestinal side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If combination therapy with nintedanib and pirfenidone is used, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but gastrointestinal side effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic efficacyVSAvoidgastrointestinal side effects
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the combination therapy into two distinct parts: a PDE4 inhibitor component and an antifibrotic component (nintedanib or pirfenidone). This segmentation allows for optimized dosing of each component, reducing gastrointestinal side effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. The PDE4 inhibitor is administered at 18 mg twice daily, which is a specific optimized dose that balances effectiveness with tolerability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the dosage of the PDE4 inhibitor to 18 mg twice daily, which represents a specific parameter optimization. This dosage was determined to provide the best balance between therapeutic efficacy and minimizing gastrointestinal adverse events when combined with antifibrotic therapy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If combination therapy with nintedanib and pirfenidone is used, then disease progression control is improved, but patient compliance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease progression controlVSAvoidpatient compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the therapy into a PDE4 inhibitor plus a single antifibrotic agent (either nintedanib or pirfenidone, but not both), the patent reduces treatment complexity. This segmentation makes the regimen more manageable for patients, improving compliance while still providing enhanced disease progression control compared to monotherapy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a fixed-dose formulation of the PDE4 inhibitor at 18 mg twice daily, which simplifies dosing instructions and improves patient compliance. The specific fixed dosage eliminates the need for complex dose adjustments, making the treatment regimen more accessible and easier to follow for patients.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4426298B1New therapeutic combinations comprising pirfenidone and PDE4-inhibitor for the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INT GMBH
  • EP4426298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4426298B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4426298B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention concerns an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising • either 18 mg or 9 mg of the PDE4B-inhibitor of formula (III), • a therapeutically effective dose of a second active agent selected from the group consisting of nintedanib or pirfenidone and • optionally, one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients for the treatment of a patient suffering from a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD), wherein this oral pharmaceutical composition is to be administered to said patient twice daily. The invention further concerns the use of the PDE4B-inhibitor of formula (III) for preparing an oral pharmaceutical composition comprising either18 mg or 9 mg of the PDE4B-inhibitor of formula (III) for use in a method of treating a patient suffering from one or more Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases (PF-ILDs), wherein said oral pharmaceutical composition is to be orally administered twice daily to said patient in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of a therapeutically effective dose of a second active agent selected from the group consisting of nintdanib and pirfenidone.