Prebiotic Compositions to Boost Checkpoint Immunotherapy Efficacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint therapies, have limited efficacy in a significant portion of patients, and there is a need to improve the effectiveness of both immunotherapies and vaccines.
Innovation Solution
Administering a fiber-containing prebiotic agent, such as gel-based inulin with an average degree of polymerization between 20 and 47, concurrently with immunotherapies or vaccines to enhance the richness and diversity of the gut microbiome, thereby synergizing with immune checkpoint blockers to increase anti-tumor efficacy and immune response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If immune checkpoint therapy is administered alone, then the treatment can be given to all patients, but the efficacy is limited to only 10-30% of patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of gut microbiome composition by administering prebiotics (inulin, FOS, GOS) to promote growth of specific beneficial bacteria. This parameter change in the microbiome environment enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy, transforming it from a treatment that works in only 10-30% of patients to one that shows improved effectiveness across broader patient populations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite therapeutic approach by combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with prebiotic agents. This composite strategy involves administering both the immunotherapy drug and prebiotics (inulin, FOS, or GOS) together, where the prebiotics modify the gut microbiome to create a more favorable environment for the immunotherapy to work, thereby improving overall treatment efficacy.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional immunotherapy is used, then the treatment protocol is simple, but the immune response is insufficient in many patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by administering prebiotics before or concurrent with immune checkpoint therapy to pre-condition the gut microbiome. This preliminary modification of the microbiome environment (increasing beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) prepares the patient's system to respond more strongly to the subsequent immunotherapy, thereby enhancing the immune response without significantly complicating the overall treatment protocol.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The approach results in stronger anti-tumor efficacy, enhanced immune response, and increased abundance of beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Roseburia, leading to improved inhibition of tumor growth and increased frequency of anti-tumor T cells.
Implementation Method 1
oral formulations of prebiotic agents (e.g., inulin) can alter the gut microbiome so that beneficial bacteria increase in frequency
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for increasing the efficacy of immunotherapies and vaccines. In particular, the present invention relates to elevating the richness and diversity of a subject's gut microbiome through administration of an agent (e.g., fiber containing prebiotic agent (e.g., epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), fucoidan, potato starch, oligofructose and inulin)) (e.g., melatonin) with an immunotherapy or vaccine. Such compositions and methods are useful for treating cancer, infectious pathogens, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and/or obesity.