Using Specific Steroid Molecules to Block Salt Retention in the Body
A 1976 medical patent describing the use of 11-beta,18-oxidopregnane compounds to help the body excrete sodium by blocking the salt-retaining effects of the hormone aldosterone.
Original patent title: “Aldosterone antagonists”
A 1976 medical patent describing the use of 11-beta,18-oxidopregnane compounds to help the body excrete sodium by blocking the salt-retaining effects of the hormone aldosterone. Granted to Individual in 1978 with 5 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a method for treating patients who retain too much salt by administering specific chemical compounds known as 11-beta,18-oxidopregnanes. These molecules act as aldosterone antagonists, meaning they compete with or block the natural hormone aldosterone, which normally signals the kidneys to hold onto sodium. By inhibiting this hormone, the drug forces the kidneys to excrete more sodium, which can help lower blood pressure or reduce fluid buildup. The claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specify a range of chemical structures, including 18-deoxyaldosterone, that can be used to achieve this effect.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of spironolactone or other non-oxidopregnane class diuretics.
- Does not cover treatments for conditions unrelated to mineralocorticoid-induced sodium retention.
- Does not claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → the synthesis process for creating these specific chemical compounds.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The invention identifies that by modifying the 11-beta,18-oxido structure of the pregnane backbone, one can create a molecule that binds to the aldosterone receptor without triggering the same salt-retaining response as the hormone itself.
The Patent Drawing
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 diuretic therapies
Research into mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents an early effort to pharmacologically manage fluid balance by targeting the mineralocorticoid pathway. While aldosterone antagonists are now a standard class of drugs for heart failure and hypertension, this patent highlights the foundational exploration of steroid-based molecules to modulate kidney function.
Filed
December 2, 1976
Granted
March 28, 1978
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Novartis have continued to develop and refine the class of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, building on the fundamental understanding of how these receptors regulate sodium excretion.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the broader medical understanding of how to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure by targeting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. It helped establish the viability of using synthetic steroid derivatives to manage fluid homeostasis in clinical settings.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a method for treating patients who retain too much salt by administering specific chemical compounds known as 11-beta,18-oxidopregnanes. These molecules act as aldosterone antagonists, meaning they compete with or block the natural hormone aldosterone, which normally signals the kidneys to hold onto sodium. By inhibiting this hormone, the drug forces the kidneys to excrete more sodium, which can help lower blood pressure or reduce fluid buildup. The claims specify a range of chemical structures, including 18-deoxyaldosterone, that can be used to achieve this effect.
The clever bit
The invention identifies that by modifying the 11-beta,18-oxido structure of the pregnane backbone, one can create a molecule that binds to the aldosterone receptor without triggering the same salt-retaining response as the hormone itself.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of spironolactone or other non-oxidopregnane class diuretics.
- Does not cover treatments for conditions unrelated to mineralocorticoid-induced sodium retention.
- Does not claim the synthesis process for creating these specific chemical compounds.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
3/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
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
$9K – $29K
Midpoint $18K · expired or expiring · 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.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
5 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Ulick, S. (1978). Using Specific Steroid Molecules to Block Salt Retention in the Body (U.S. Patent No. 4,081,538). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4081538/aldosterone-antagonists
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 Specific Steroid Molecules to Block Salt Retention in the Body cover?
A 1976 medical patent describing the use of 11-beta,18-oxidopregnane compounds to help the body excrete sodium by blocking the salt-retaining effects of the hormone aldosterone.
Who owns patent US 4081538?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1978.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 4081538 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents an early effort to pharmacologically manage fluid balance by targeting the mineralocorticoid pathway. While aldosterone antagonists are now a standard class of drugs for heart failure and hypertension, this patent highlights the foundational exploration of steroid-based molecules to modulate kidney function.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of spironolactone or other non-oxidopregnane class diuretics.
Same assignee
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