Using the Drug TIC10 to Treat Brain Cancer
A patent for using a specific small molecule drug called TIC10 to treat brain cancers like glioblastoma by triggering a natural cell-death process.
Original patent title: “USRE46290E1 - Small molecule trail gene induction by normal and tumor cells as an anticancer therapy”
A patent for using a specific small molecule drug called TIC10 to treat brain cancers like glioblastoma by triggering a natural cell-death process. Granted to Penn State Research Foundation in 2017 with 13 claims and 3 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for treating brain cancer by administering a specific chemical compound known as TIC10. The compound works by inducing the expression of a protein called TRAIL, which signals cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → cover using this drug alone or in combination with other anti-cancer or anti-angiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab, to fight tumors. It also includes methods for monitoring the treatment's success by measuring TRAIL levels in a patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of TIC10 for treating diseases other than cancer.
- Does not cover chemical compounds that do not match the specific structure defined as Formula (I).
- Does not cover general immunotherapy methods that do not rely on the specific TRAIL-induction mechanism of TIC10.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods that do not involve assessing TRAIL levels as a marker for treatment effectiveness.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in identifying a small molecule that can cross the blood-brain barrier and specifically upregulate TRAIL, a protein that triggers suicide in cancer cells while often leaving healthy cells unharmed.
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
TIC10 (also known as ONC201) in clinical trials for glioblastoma
Combination therapies involving mitotic inhibitors like paclitaxel
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with limited treatment options. This patent represents a targeted approach to therapy, moving away from broad-spectrum chemotherapy toward drugs that activate the body's own cell-death pathways. It provides a legal framework for the development of TIC10 as a specialized pharmaceutical product.
Filed
September 17, 2015
Granted
January 31, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology is primarily associated with research originating from Penn State and has been advanced by companies like Oncoceutics (acquired by Chimerix). These organizations continue to conduct clinical trials to validate the efficacy of the compound in human patients.
Market impact
This patent helped establish a specific therapeutic pathway for treating glioblastoma, a condition notoriously difficult to manage. It has focused investment into the development of ONC201, creating a distinct niche in the oncology market for small-molecule TRAIL inducers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for treating brain cancer by administering a specific chemical compound known as TIC10. The compound works by inducing the expression of a protein called TRAIL, which signals cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The claims cover using this drug alone or in combination with other anti-cancer or anti-angiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab, to fight tumors. It also includes methods for monitoring the treatment's success by measuring TRAIL levels in a patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in identifying a small molecule that can cross the blood-brain barrier and specifically upregulate TRAIL, a protein that triggers suicide in cancer cells while often leaving healthy cells unharmed.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of TIC10 for treating diseases other than cancer.
- Does not cover chemical compounds that do not match the specific structure defined as Formula (I).
- Does not cover general immunotherapy methods that do not rely on the specific TRAIL-induction mechanism of TIC10.
- Does not cover diagnostic methods that do not involve assessing TRAIL levels as a marker for treatment effectiveness.
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
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
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
$90K – $288K
Midpoint $180K · 9.3 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
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wu, G. S., El-Deiry, W. S., & Allen, J. E. (2017). Using the Drug TIC10 to Treat Brain Cancer (U.S. Patent No. RE46,290). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46290/tecfidera-dimethyl-fumarate
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 the Drug TIC10 to Treat Brain Cancer cover?
A patent for using a specific small molecule drug called TIC10 to treat brain cancers like glioblastoma by triggering a natural cell-death process.
Who owns patent US RE46290?
Penn State Research Foundation owns this patent, granted in 2017.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 31, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE46290 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer with limited treatment options. This patent represents a targeted approach to therapy, moving away from broad-spectrum chemotherapy toward drugs that activate the body's own cell-death pathways. It provides a legal framework for the development of TIC10 as a specialized pharmaceutical product.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of TIC10 for treating diseases other than cancer.
Patent monitoring