Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment via NMDA and Opioid Combination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current medications for restless leg syndrome often require high doses to be effective, leading to severe side effects that limit their use in the general population, necessitating the development of compositions with fewer side effects and improved efficacy.

Innovation Solution

Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a NMDA antagonist, a CYP2D6 inhibitor, and an opioid agonist, such as dextromethorphan, quinidine, and oxycodone, which are administered simultaneously or in combination to treat restless leg syndrome, reducing the need for high opioid agonist doses and minimizing side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high doses of opioid agonists are used to treat restless leg syndrome, then therapeutic efficacy is improved, but side effects increase

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines three distinct pharmacological agents (NMDA antagonist, CYP2D6 inhibitor, and opioid agonist) into a single pharmaceutical composition. This combination allows the opioid agonist to be administered at lower doses while maintaining therapeutic efficacy, thereby reducing side effects. The synergistic interaction between the three components addresses the technical contradiction by achieving both improved reliability and reduced harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The NMDA antagonist and CYP2D6 inhibitor act as intermediary substances that modulate the pharmacological activity of the opioid agonist. The NMDA antagonist reduces central sensitization and pain transmission, while the CYP2D6 inhibitor prevents rapid metabolism of the opioid agonist, allowing lower doses to achieve therapeutic effects and thereby reducing side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If high doses of medications are increased to overcome inefficiency, then therapeutic effect is improved, but severe side effects prevent effective use in general population

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges three pharmacologically active components into a unified composition that works synergistically. The NMDA antagonist addresses central pain mechanisms, the CYP2D6 inhibitor optimizes drug metabolism, and the opioid agonist provides analgesia at lower doses. This combination resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable therapeutic effects without the severe side effects associated with high-dose monotherapy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pharmaceutical composition represents a composite therapeutic agent combining three different drug classes. This composite approach allows each component to contribute its unique pharmacological properties, achieving enhanced therapeutic effect at lower overall doses and thereby reducing severe side effects that would prevent use in the general population.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If opioid agonist doses are reduced to minimize side effects, then safety is improved, but efficacy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside effectsVSAvoidefficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines three agents that work through different mechanisms to achieve synergistic analgesia. The NMDA antagonist blocks pain transmission at the central level, the CYP2D6 inhibitor extends the half-life and potency of the opioid agonist, and the opioid agonist provides direct pain relief. This combination allows lower opioid doses to maintain efficacy while reducing side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The CYP2D6 inhibitor changes the metabolic parameter of the opioid agonist by blocking its degradation pathway. This parameter change increases the bioavailability and duration of action of the opioid agonist, allowing lower doses to achieve the same therapeutic effect and thereby maintaining efficacy while minimizing side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12064423B2Medicine combinations and treatment of restless leg syndrome
Publication Date: 2024.08.20 MINDLAB

AI summary

Embodiments disclosed herein describe, amongst other things, dosage forms, compounds, compositions, pharmaceutical compositions that can be used in the treatment of, for example, restless leg syndrome.