# Making Drug Proteins Last Longer and Target Diseases Better > This patent describes ways to make protein and peptide drugs stay in the body longer and target specific diseases like autoimmune conditions or cancer more precisely by linking them together or combining them with other molecules. - **Patent:** US 20190160160 - **Original title:** Methods to Treat Diseases with Protein, Peptide and Antigen Modification - **Owner:** Individual - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** pharmaceutical, biotech, materials ## What it does This patent describes two main methods to improve drug treatments. First, it details how to extend the active life of peptide drugs in the body (their "half-life"). This is done by connecting at least three individual peptide units, called monomers, in a linear chain using a special "self-immolative linker" (Claim 1). This creates a larger molecule, an "oligomer," with a total molecular weight greater than 60,000 (Claim 1). The linker is designed to break apart inside the body, releasing the active peptides when needed. For example, this method could be applied to peptides like Exenatide (Claim 3) or CNP peptide (Claim 4). Second, the patent describes creating specialized combinations, or "conjugates," to treat autoimmune diseases, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus (Claim 6). These conjugates combine an "auto antigen" (a substance that causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissues, such as B cell antigen or DNA, as in Claims 7-8) with a "second antigen" that the body already has natural antibodies against (like alpha-gal or L-rhamnose, as in Claim 9). The goal is to redirect the body's immune response to treat the disease more effectively. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover extending peptide half-life by connecting fewer than three peptide units. - Does not cover peptide oligomers with a total molecular weight of 60,000 or less. - Does not cover linkers that are not "self-immolative" or are not cleavable inside a living organism. - Does not cover conjugates for autoimmune diseases other than systemic lupus erythematosus, unless additional claims specify. - Does not cover conjugates where the second antigen is not something the body already has natural antibodies against. ## The clever bit The core innovation involves using a cleavable linker to temporarily increase the size of a peptide drug, which helps it stay in the body longer by preventing rapid breakdown, while still allowing the active drug to be released when and where it's needed. For autoimmune diseases, the cleverness lies in hijacking existing antibodies to deliver or redirect an immune response against specific disease targets. ## Real-world examples 1. Long-acting versions of Exenatide for type 2 diabetes 2. Other long-acting peptide drugs for chronic conditions 3. Experimental targeted therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus ## Why it matters Many protein and peptide drugs break down quickly in the body, requiring frequent injections, which can be inconvenient for patients. This patent's methods could lead to drugs that last longer, meaning patients might need fewer doses. For autoimmune diseases, the targeted approach could reduce unwanted side effects by focusing the immune response more precisely on the disease-causing elements. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Making Drug Proteins Last Longer and Target Diseases Better cover? This patent describes ways to make protein and peptide drugs stay in the body longer and target specific diseases like autoimmune conditions or cancer more precisely by linking them together or combining them with other molecules. ### Who owns patent US 20190160160? This patent is owned by Individual. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on February 11, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? Many protein and peptide drugs break down quickly in the body, requiring frequent injections, which can be inconvenient for patients. This patent's methods could lead to drugs that last longer, meaning patients might need fewer doses. For autoimmune diseases, the targeted approach could reduce unwanted side effects by focusing the immune response more precisely on the disease-causing elements. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover extending peptide half-life by connecting fewer than three peptide units. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20190160160/methods-to-treat-diseases-with-protein-peptide-and-antigen-modification **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190160160 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How to Build Smaller, Synthetic Antibody-Like Molecules for Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5455030/immunotheraphy-using-single-chain-polypeptide-binding-molecules) — This patent describes a way to create small, single-chain proteins that mimic the binding power of full-sized antibodies to deliver medicine more effectively. - [How a Specific Protein Fragment Can Train Immune Cells to Fight Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10314897/peptides-and-combination-of-peptides-for-use-in-immunotherapy-against-various-ca) — This patent describes methods to fight various cancers by using a specific protein fragment (peptide LYHDIFSRL) to train a patient's immune cells to recognize and attack tumor cells. - [How Synthetic Peptides Block Immune System Overreaction](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10106579/orkambi-lumacaftor-ivacaftor) — A patent describing specific synthetic peptides designed to stop the body's immune system from attacking healthy cells by blocking a protein called C5. - [Targeted Platinum Drugs for Cancer Treatment](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9884123/ligand-targeted-molecules-and-methods-thereof) — This patent describes a way to deliver platinum-based cancer drugs directly to tumor cells by attaching them to a special 'ligand' molecule that seeks out cancer cell markers. - [How to Create Lab-Made Proteins That Stop Immune System Overreaction](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6458360/hpv-vaccine-gardasil) — A method for creating custom proteins that act as 'brakes' for the body's immune system to prevent damage from excessive inflammation.