Renal Artery Viral Vector Delivery for Targeted Glomerular Gene Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for delivering viral vectors to glomerular cells, such as podocytes, in the kidney are inefficient and often result in inconsistent gene delivery, with conventional intravenous and direct kidney injection techniques failing to effectively target these cells due to the permselectivity of the glomerulus and high risk of systemic spread.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive direct renal artery injection method using a catheter to deliver viral vectors, which includes inserting the catheter into the renal artery, optionally occluding the artery, and infusing the vector under no flow conditions, thereby enhancing localized transgene expression in glomeruli and podocytes while minimizing expression in other tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional intravenous delivery is used, then the procedure is simple and minimally invasive, but the gene delivery efficiency is low due to permselectivity of the glomerulus preventing entry of molecular therapies from blood into the kidney

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of delivery procedureVSAvoidgene delivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the renal artery as an intermediary pathway to deliver viral vectors directly to the kidney, bypassing the glomerular filtration barrier that blocks intravenous delivery. By injecting the viral vector into the renal artery, the therapy reaches the kidney tissue through blood flow without being filtered out by the glomerulus, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of administration and delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If direct kidney injection methods are used, then gene delivery efficiency improves, but the procedure becomes more complex and safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegene delivery efficiencyVSAvoidcomplexity of injection procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the delivery procedure into two distinct parts: (1) catheter insertion into the renal artery through a percutaneous approach, and (2) viral vector injection through the catheter. This segmentation allows the complex task of direct kidney delivery to be broken down into manageable steps that can be performed with standard interventional radiology equipment, reducing overall procedural complexity while maintaining high delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If direct kidney injection is used, then transgene expression increases, but safety concerns arise from potential tissue damage and inconsistent delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransgene expression consistencyVSAvoidtissue damage and safety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions to ensure safe and consistent delivery: (1) The catheter is carefully navigated to the renal artery under imaging guidance before injection, ensuring proper positioning; (2) The viral vector formulation is prepared in advance with appropriate volume and concentration; (3) The injection parameters (volume, concentration, duration) are predetermined based on preclinical data. These preliminary actions reduce variability and minimize tissue damage while ensuring consistent transgene expression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4729619A2methods
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 PURESPRING THERAPEUTICS LTD
  • EP4729619A2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4729619A2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4729619A2 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of delivering a viral vector to a subject's kidney, the method comprising: (a) inserting a catheter into the renal artery; (b) optionally inflating a balloon to occlude the renal artery; and (c) injecting or infusing the viral vector into the renal artery via the catheter. The present invention also relates to a viral vector for use in therapy, wherein the viral vector is delivered by said method.