Very Long Chain Fatty Acid Composition for Defective Fatty Acid Synthesis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subjects with reduced ability for endogenic synthesis of fatty acids, particularly very long chain fatty acids, do not respond satisfactorily to traditional C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acid treatments due to insufficient metabolic conversion, leading to unmet health needs in tissues requiring these fatty acids for optimal function.

Innovation Solution

Administration of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) with chain lengths of C24-C40, including VLCPUFAs, VLCMUFAs, and VLCn3s, to overcome enzymatic bottlenecks and enhance in vivo synthesis in specific tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional C20-C22 omega-3 fatty acid treatments are administered, then the treatment provides omega-3 supplementation, but subjects with reduced endogenic synthesis ability do not respond satisfactorily due to insufficient metabolic conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidmetabolic conversion ability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chain length parameter of the administered fatty acids from C20-C22 to C24-C40, providing pre-formed very long chain fatty acids that bypass the defective elongation pathway and can be directly utilized by target tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

VLCFAs act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between dietary omega-3 intake and the specific physiological needs of tissues requiring very long chain fatty acids, bypassing the defective enzymatic conversion step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional industrial processes concentrate C20-C22 fraction by removing short-chain and larger molecules, then EPA and DHA concentration is improved, but very long chain fatty acids (C24+) are removed along with undesirable constituents

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEPA and DHA concentrationVSAvoidvery long chain fatty acids

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fatty acid mixture into distinct fractions based on chain length, specifically isolating and preserving the C24-C40 VLCFA fraction that contains both beneficial very long chain omega-3 fatty acids and undesirable constituents, then selectively removing only the short-chain and C20-C22 fractions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of concentrating VLCFAs by removing shorter chains, the patent inverts the approach by removing C20-C22 and shorter chains to concentrate the VLCFA fraction, thereby preserving beneficial VLCFAs while eliminating short-chain fatty acids

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Quantity of substance

If subjects have reduced ability for endogenic synthesis of very long chain fatty acids, then the body cannot produce sufficient VLCFAs from shorter fatty acids, but administering C20-C22 fatty acids does not compensate for this deficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevery long chain fatty acid levels in tissuesVSAvoidendogenic synthesis capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides pre-formed very long chain fatty acids (C24-C40) that have already undergone the elongation process that is defective in the subject's body, eliminating the need for further endogenic synthesis and allowing direct utilization by target tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260014109A1Very long chain fatty acids for treatment and alleviation of diseases

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 EPAX NORWAY

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment and alleviation of diseases. Particularly, the invention provides compositions comprising very long chain fatty acids for use in treatment, such as of subjects having a deficient or abnormal level of VLCFAs present in specific tissue which play a role in the disease. Particularly, the invention provides methods and compositions for treatment of subjects having a reduced ability for endogenic synthesis of fatty acids.