Retinal Disease Composition for All-Trans-Retinal Cytotoxicity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for hereditary and age-related retinal diseases, particularly those caused by ABCA4 genetic mutations and age-related macular degeneration, are limited, with no effective therapeutic agents available for the early dry form, leading to progressive blindness.

Innovation Solution

A novel composition comprising compounds represented by General Formulas 1 to 5, which include substituents such as alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups, is developed to inhibit cytotoxicity, cell aging, and intracellular reactive oxygen species, thereby preventing or treating retinal diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If only one therapeutic agent targeting RPE65 gene is used, then treatment is available for a very small number of patients, but most hereditary retinal diseases remain untreated leading to progressive blindness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve适用范围VSAvoid治疗效果
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a series of compounds (General Formulas 1-5) that can treat multiple types of retinal diseases including ABCA4-associated diseases and age-related macular degeneration, making the therapy universally applicable to various retinal conditions rather than limited to a single disease mechanism

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies chemical parameters by developing compounds with specific structural features (substituents R1-R17 in General Formulas 1-5) to optimize the therapeutic effect while maintaining broad applicability across different retinal disease types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If no treatment is available for early dry form of macular degeneration, then progression to late atrophic form can be prevented, but patients remain blind due to lack of therapeutic intervention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve治疗效果VSAvoid适用范围
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides compounds that can be administered in the early dry form of macular degeneration to prevent progression before irreversible damage occurs, enabling early intervention that stops disease progression to the atrophic stage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compounds work by preventing the formation and accumulation of A2E photooxidant before it causes significant retinal damage, thereby providing preliminary protection against the harmful effects that lead to vision loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If all-trans-retinal accumulates in retinal epithelial cells, then it forms photooxidant A2E through oxidative mechanism, but this toxic substance causes cytotoxicity and cell death in photoreceptor cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve细胞毒性VSAvoid光氧化作用
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compounds convert the harmful accumulation of all-trans-retinal and A2E photooxidant into a beneficial outcome by reducing cytotoxicity and photooxidation, transforming the toxic metabolic pathway into a safer state that protects photoreceptor cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The compounds act as intermediaries that interfere with the oxidative mechanism converting all-trans-retinal to A2E, serving as a mediator that blocks the harmful transformation process and reduces the formation of toxic photooxidant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 compounds exhibit excellent cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity, inhibit cell aging, and reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species, effectively treating and inhibiting the progression of hereditary and age-related macular degeneration.

Implementation Method 1

the compounds of the present invention not only have an excellent cytoprotective effect against cytotoxicity caused by all-trans-retinal and an inhibitory effect against cell aging caused by hydrogen peroxide, but can also effectively suppress the increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species caused by all-trans-retinal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntioxidant activity: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP4714445A1Novel composition for preventing or treating retinal diseases
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 SEOUL NAT UNIV HOSPITAL
  • EP4714445A1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~1(B)
  • EP4714445A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4714445A1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(C)

AI summary

The present specification discloses a novel composition for preventing or treating retinal diseases. In one aspect, compounds in the present invention are extremely effective in protecting cells against the cytotoxicity of all-trans-retinal, inhibiting cellular aging, and inhibiting intracellular reactive oxygen species, and thus can be used in therapeutic agents for retinal diseases such as hereditary macular degeneration and age-related macular degeneration.