RXR Agonist Dosing for CNS Remyelination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, primarily focus on delaying disease progression through anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects but fail to reverse pathology or restore neurological function, and often result in hypothyroidism as a side effect, which may counteract therapeutic benefits.

Innovation Solution

The use of thyroid hormone neutral doses of Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) agonists, specifically compounds like IRX4204, which selectively activate RXR homodimers and Nurr1/RXR heterodimers, to promote remyelination, neuroprotection, and immunomodulation, thereby reducing disease symptoms and progression without causing significant thyroid hormone level changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs are used to delay disease progression, then disease progression is delayed, but neurological function cannot be restored and hypothyroidism occurs as a side effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease progression delayVSAvoidhypothyroidism side effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dosing parameter of RXR agonists to achieve thyroid hormone neutrality. By carefully selecting doses that do not significantly alter thyroid hormone levels (maintaining T4 within ±20% of baseline), the treatment avoids hypothyroidism while preserving the beneficial immunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects on demyelinating diseases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces thyroid hormone monitoring as an intermediary mechanism to mediate between RXR agonist treatment and thyroid function. By measuring T4 levels before and during treatment and adjusting dosing accordingly, the system ensures thyroid hormone neutrality while maintaining therapeutic efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If higher doses of RXR agonists are used to enhance therapeutic effect, then remyelination and neuroprotection are improved, but thyroid hormone levels decrease causing hypothyroidism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremyelination efficacyVSAvoidthyroid hormone decrease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where thyroid hormone levels (T4) are measured before and during RXR agonist treatment. Based on this feedback, the dose is adjusted to maintain T4 within acceptable ranges (±20% of baseline), thereby preventing hypothyroidism while optimizing remyelination and neuroprotection effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamic dosing adjustment rather than fixed dosing. The RXR agonist dose is tailored to each patient's response, with adjustments made based on individual thyroid hormone level changes, allowing optimization of therapeutic effect while maintaining thyroid hormone neutrality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3368160B1Treatment of nervous system disorders using thyroid hormone neutral doses of RXR agonists
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 IO THERAPEUTICS INC
  • EP3368160B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3368160B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP3368160B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The present specification provides methods of treating nervous system disorders with a thyroid hormone neutral dose of a RXR agonist to promote remyelination or neuroprotection or both and thereby maintain or regenerate healthy axons and neurons.