Using Antibodies to Block IL-26 for Treating Inflammatory Diseases
A patent for specific antibodies that block the protein IL-26 to help treat inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and Crohn's disease.
Original patent title: “IL-26 inhibitors”
A patent for specific antibodies that block the protein IL-26 to help treat inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and Crohn's disease. Granted to Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV in 2020 with 15 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a specific monoclonal antibody designed to bind to and neutralize a protein called Interleukin-26 (IL-26). IL-26 is a signaling molecule that can trigger inflammation in the body. By using these antibodies to block IL-26, the treatment aims to stop the inflammatory response, specifically by preventing IL-26 from causing damage independently of its usual receptor. The patent details the exact amino acid sequences (the building blocks of the antibody) required for this specific binding, ensuring the antibody targets IL-26 effectively. This could be used in patients to reduce symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as skin thickening in psoriasis or the overproduction of other inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover any antibody that binds to IL-26 using different amino acid sequences than those specified in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
- Does not cover treatments that use small molecule drugs instead of monoclonal antibodies or their fragments.
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to IL-26 but fail to inhibit its receptor-independent inflammatory function.
- Does not cover general methods of treating inflammation that do not involve the specific IL-26 inhibition described.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in targeting the receptor-independent inflammatory function of IL-26, meaning the antibody stops the protein from causing trouble even if it is not using its standard cellular doorway to signal.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Experimental antibody therapies for psoriasis
Targeted treatments for Crohn's disease
Research into rheumatoid arthritis biologics
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and Crohn's are often treated with broad-spectrum immunosuppressants that can have significant side effects. By targeting a specific protein like IL-26, this approach offers a more precise way to calm the immune system. This patent provides the intellectual property foundation for developing a targeted therapy that could potentially offer better outcomes for patients with chronic autoimmune conditions.
Filed
July 13, 2016
Granted
August 25, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The research originated from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) in Switzerland. The field of cytokine-targeted therapy is highly active, with major pharmaceutical companies like Novartis, AbbVie, and Janssen constantly exploring new monoclonal antibodies to address inflammatory pathways.
Market impact
This patent identifies a specific biological target for drug development. It allows the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → to protect a niche in the crowded market of autoimmune biologics, potentially leading to new clinical trials and future therapeutic options for patients who do not respond to current standard-of-care treatments.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a specific monoclonal antibody designed to bind to and neutralize a protein called Interleukin-26 (IL-26). IL-26 is a signaling molecule that can trigger inflammation in the body. By using these antibodies to block IL-26, the treatment aims to stop the inflammatory response, specifically by preventing IL-26 from causing damage independently of its usual receptor. The patent details the exact amino acid sequences (the building blocks of the antibody) required for this specific binding, ensuring the antibody targets IL-26 effectively. This could be used in patients to reduce symptoms of inflammatory diseases, such as skin thickening in psoriasis or the overproduction of other inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNF.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in targeting the receptor-independent inflammatory function of IL-26, meaning the antibody stops the protein from causing trouble even if it is not using its standard cellular doorway to signal.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover any antibody that binds to IL-26 using different amino acid sequences than those specified in the claims.
- Does not cover treatments that use small molecule drugs instead of monoclonal antibodies or their fragments.
- Does not cover antibodies that bind to IL-26 but fail to inhibit its receptor-independent inflammatory function.
- Does not cover general methods of treating inflammation that do not involve the specific IL-26 inhibition described.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
10/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$75K – $240K
Midpoint $150K · 10.1 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
15 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
DOMIZIO, J. D., Gilliet, M., & MELLER, S. (2020). Using Antibodies to Block IL-26 for Treating Inflammatory Diseases (U.S. Patent No. 10,751,416). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10751416/tagrisso-osimertinib
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Antibodies to Block IL-26 for Treating Inflammatory Diseases cover?
A patent for specific antibodies that block the protein IL-26 to help treat inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and Crohn's disease.
Who owns patent US 10751416?
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois CHUV owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 25, 2040, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10751416 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and Crohn's are often treated with broad-spectrum immunosuppressants that can have significant side effects. By targeting a specific protein like IL-26, this approach offers a more precise way to calm the immune system. This patent provides the intellectual property foundation for developing a targeted therapy that could potentially offer better outcomes for patients with chronic autoimmune conditions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover any antibody that binds to IL-26 using different amino acid sequences than those specified in the claims.
Patent monitoring