Semaphorin 3B Membranous Nephropathy Screening for Faster Treatment

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating membranous nephropathy require identification of specific autoantibodies or polypeptide elevations in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) before administering immunosuppressive agents like Rituximab, leading to delays and additional testing costs.

Innovation Solution

Administering immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine, or B-cell reduction/depletion agents like Rituximab to treat membranous nephropathy without prior testing for elevated polypeptides or specific autoantibodies, using Semaphorin 3B as a target antigen indicator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If prior testing for elevated polypeptides or specific autoantibodies is performed before administering immunosuppressive agents, then treatment accuracy and targeting are improved, but treatment time and costs increase due to delays and additional testing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidtreatment delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary identification of Semaphorin 3B as a target antigen in advance, establishing it as a reliable marker for membranous nephropathy. This preliminary action enables clinicians to use Semaphorin 3B testing as a streamlined preliminary screen that reduces the need for more time-consuming comprehensive autoantibody panels while maintaining diagnostic accuracy for treatment decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts Semaphorin 3B as a specific target antigen from the complex array of potential autoantigens in membranous nephropathy. By focusing on this single extracted target rather than testing for multiple polypeptides and autoantibodies simultaneously, the diagnostic process is simplified and accelerated, reducing treatment delay while maintaining precision for identifying patients who will respond to immunosuppressive therapy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If comprehensive testing for multiple polypeptides and autoantibodies is performed, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but testing costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic reliabilityVSAvoidtesting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts Semaphorin 3B as a specific target antigen from the complex array of potential autoantigens in membranous nephropathy. By focusing on this single extracted target rather than testing for multiple polypeptides and autoantibodies simultaneously, the diagnostic process is simplified and accelerated, reducing treatment delay while maintaining precision for identifying patients who will respond to immunosuppressive therapy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Semaphorin 3B serves as a universal marker that can identify multiple cases of membranous nephropathy that would otherwise require different diagnostic approaches. This single target antigen testing approach provides a universal screening method that maintains diagnostic reliability across diverse patient presentations while reducing the need for complex, case-by-case diagnostic algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple polypeptide and autoantibody tests are administered, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but testing expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic coverageVSAvoidtesting cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts Semaphorin 3B as a specific target antigen from the complex array of potential autoantigens in membranous nephropathy. By focusing on this single extracted target rather than testing for multiple polypeptides and autoantibodies simultaneously, the diagnostic process is simplified and accelerated, reducing treatment delay while maintaining precision for identifying patients who will respond to immunosuppressive therapy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a cost-effective testing strategy by focusing on Semaphorin 3B as a single primary target antigen rather than requiring expensive comprehensive panels. This approach uses a more affordable, targeted assay that provides sufficient diagnostic coverage for treatment decision-making, reducing the financial burden on patients and healthcare systems while maintaining adequate diagnostic versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS12590165B2Methods and materials for identifying and treating membranous nephropathy based on elevated Semaphorin 3B

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH

AI summary

This document relates to methods and materials involved in identifying and/or treating mammals having membranous nephropathy (e.g., membranous nephropathy with an elevated level of a Semaphorin 3B polypeptide in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM)). For example, methods and materials for administering one or more immunosuppressive agents (e.g., corticosteroids, cyclosporine, or a B-cell reduction or depletion agent such as Rituximab) to treat a mammal (e.g., a human) having membranous nephropathy are provided.