Ranolazine Treatment for Elevated BNP Risk Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevated levels of natriuretic peptides, such as BNP, in patients indicate a higher risk of adverse coronary events including coronary artery disease, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and diastolic dysfunction, for which existing treatments are inadequate in reducing these risks.

Innovation Solution

Administering ranolazine to patients with plasma BNP levels of 80 pg/mL or greater, either orally or intravenously, in the form of sustained release tablets or IV solutions, to reduce the risk of adverse coronary events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing treatments are used for patients with elevated BNP levels, then the diagnosis of heart failure can be facilitated, but the risk of adverse coronary events is not adequately reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk reduction for adverse coronary eventsVSAvoidadverse coronary events including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and diastolic dysfunction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies a specific parameter threshold (BNP level ≥80 pg/mL) to stratify patients into different risk categories and applies ranolazine treatment specifically to those above the threshold, thereby changing the treatment parameter based on biomarker levels to improve risk reduction effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Ranolazine serves as an intermediary substance that mediates between the elevated BNP marker and the reduction of adverse coronary events, providing a therapeutic mechanism that connects the diagnostic marker to the clinical outcome improvement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ranolazine is administered to patients with elevated BNP levels, then the incidence of adverse coronary events is decreased, but the complexity of patient selection and monitoring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction in cardiovascular eventsVSAvoidpatient selection and monitoring process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a feedback loop where BNP levels are measured to identify patients needing treatment, ranolazine is administered, and the reduction in adverse events is monitored, creating a closed-loop system that guides clinical decision-making and outcome assessment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

BNP level testing is performed as a preliminary action before initiating ranolazine treatment, allowing patients to be stratified and selected for treatment based on their risk profile before the therapeutic intervention begins

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Ranolazine effectively decreases the incidence of coronary artery disease, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, ischemia, recurrent ischemia, and diastolic dysfunction in patients with elevated natriuretic peptide levels, as demonstrated by reduced cardiovascular events in clinical trials.

Implementation Method 1

Ranolazine, a late I Na inhibitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon channel inhibition: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP2170333B1Ranolazine for elevated brain-type natriuretic peptide
Publication Date: 2013.02.20 GILEAD SCIENCES INC
  • EP2170333B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2170333B1 patent drawing

AI summary

This invention is directed to the use of ranolazine to reduce the risk of adverse coronary events in a mammalian patient. Typically, the natriuretic peptide is associated with coronary disease, acute coronary syndrome, and/or diastolic dysfunction. Ranolazine may be administered to the patient as an intravenous solution or in an oral dose.