Treatment of autoimmune diseases

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a new method and agent for treating or preventing autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection by inhibiting early endosome-mediated antigen presentation. Specifically, it identifies agents such as primaquine (traditionally an anti-malarial drug) and certain TAP inhibitors that block the trafficking or function of early endosomes, thereby preventing the activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which are often responsible for initiating these immune responses. This targeted approach can disrupt the pathological immune activation without broadly suppressing the entire immune system.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Treatment of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and others where CTLs are involved.
• Prevention of transplant rejection by modulating antigen presentation to reduce immune attack on transplanted organs.
• Adjunct therapy for patients at high risk of developing autoimmune disorders.
• Development of pharmaceutical compositions with improved specificity for immune pathways responsible for autoimmunity.
• Potential use in veterinary medicine for autoimmune or transplant indications in animals.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Targets a key, specific mechanism in the development of autoimmune diseases—early endosome-mediated antigen presentation—providing higher specificity and potentially fewer side effects than general immunosuppressants.
• May allow for the treatment of autoimmune diseases at early stages or even as a preventive measure in at-risk patients.
• Repurposes or builds upon already-known compounds (such as primaquine), which may accelerate development and regulatory approval.
• Potential to reduce or prevent transplant rejection without the broad suppression of the entire immune system, which lowers the risk of infections and other complications.
• Can be formulated into various pharmaceutical compositions for different routes of administration (oral, intravenous, etc.), offering flexibility for clinical use.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to an agent capable of preventing early endosome mediated antigen presentation for use in a method for treating or preventing an autoimmune disease or a transplant rejection. In a preferred embodiment, the agent, preferably primaquine, is capable of preventing early endosome trafficking towards the cell membrane.