Tradipitant NK-1 Antagonist for Cytokine Storm Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for COVID-19, such as remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies, do not effectively prevent or treat cytokine storms and acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to high mortality and long-term pulmonary fibrosis in patients, necessitating a more targeted therapeutic approach.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the level of substance P in a patient's plasma sample to identify those likely to benefit from tradipitant treatment, an NK-1 receptor antagonist, which is administered to reduce inflammatory lung injury and accelerate recovery from lower respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies are used to treat COVID-19, then viral infection is suppressed, but cytokine storms and acute respiratory distress syndrome are not effectively prevented or treated
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment approach is segmented into two components: antiviral therapy (remdesivir, monoclonal antibodies) to suppress viral infection, and NK-1 receptor antagonism (tradipitant) to prevent cytokine storms and respiratory distress. This segmentation allows each component to target specific pathologies without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction by adding a specialized module for harmful factors that existing treatments do not address.
Solution Approach 2:
Tradipitant acts as an intermediary substance that blocks the harmful effects of substance P (a neuropeptide involved in cytokine storm and respiratory distress) by binding to NK-1 receptors. This intermediary mechanism prevents the harmful factors from acting on their target receptors, thereby treating the respiratory distress and cytokine storm without affecting the antiviral activity of other treatments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional treatments are administered to all patients, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but patient selection for targeted therapy is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
Substance P levels are measured in patients before initiating treatment to identify those who would benefit most from tradipitant therapy. This preliminary action enables proactive selection of appropriate patients before treatment begins, optimizing the adaptability of the treatment protocol to individual patient needs without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the treatment course.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment protocol incorporates measurement of substance P levels as a selection parameter to determine patient eligibility for tradipitant therapy. By using this biochemical parameter as a criterion for patient selection, the protocol achieves targeted therapy optimization while maintaining relative simplicity, as the parameter measurement is performed once at baseline rather than requiring continuous monitoring or complex decision algorithms.
3Reliability
If tradipitant is administered to all patients with lower respiratory tract infection, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but unnecessary treatment is given to patients who would not benefit
Solution Approach 1:
Substance P levels are measured in patients before initiating treatment to identify those who would benefit most from tradipitant therapy. This preliminary action enables proactive selection of appropriate patients before treatment begins, optimizing the adaptability of the treatment protocol to individual patient needs without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the treatment course.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment protocol incorporates measurement of substance P levels as a selection parameter to determine patient eligibility for tradipitant therapy. By using this biochemical parameter as a criterion for patient selection, the protocol achieves targeted therapy optimization while maintaining relative simplicity, as the parameter measurement is performed once at baseline rather than requiring continuous monitoring or complex decision algorithms.
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
Tradipitant effectively shortens the duration of illness, reduces hospitalization time, and prevents long-term pulmonary damage by targeting substance P levels, thereby improving clinical outcomes and reducing mortality in patients with severe COVID-19.
Implementation Method 1
Tradipitant is a highly potent, selective, centrally penetrating, and orally active NK-1 receptor antagonist
Implementation Method 2
SP is the most common neuropeptide in the airway, and initiates the cytokine storming via binding to the NK-1 receptor, resulting in the release of inflammatory mediators
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of treatment of a lower respiratory tract infection caused by. e.g., coronavirus disease (COVID-19), influenza, or other virus. comprising treatment with the NK-1 receptor antagonist. tradipitant.