# 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.

- **Patent:** US RE46290
- **Original title:** USRE46290E1 - Small molecule trail gene induction by normal and tumor cells as an anticancer therapy
- **Owner:** Penn State Research Foundation
- **Granted:** 2017
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 3
- **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. TIC10 (also known as ONC201) in clinical trials for glioblastoma
2. Combination therapies involving mitotic inhibitors like paclitaxel

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46290/tecfidera-dimethyl-fumarate

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE46290

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._