Using Plant-Derived Chemicals and Metabolic Drugs to Fight Cancer
A medical patent describing a combination therapy that pairs specific plant-derived compounds with metabolic drugs to kill cancer cells more effectively than either could alone.
Original patent title: “USRE46907E1 - Suppression of cancer growth and metastasis using nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivatives with metabolic modulators”
A medical patent describing a combination therapy that pairs specific plant-derived compounds with metabolic drugs to kill cancer cells more effectively than either could alone. Granted to Johns Hopkins University in 2018 with 16 claims and 1 forward citation.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to treat cancer by combining a derivative of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)—specifically M4N or maltose-M3N—with a metabolic modulator. A metabolic modulator is a drug that changes how cells process energy, such as rapamycin or everolimus. The key innovation is that these two components work together synergistically, meaning the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. By targeting the energy metabolism of rapidly dividing cancer cells while simultaneously introducing the NDGA derivative, the treatment aims to shrink tumors and stop them from spreading (metastasis).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of NDGA derivatives alone without a metabolic modulator.
- Does not cover metabolic modulators used in isolation for cancer treatment.
- Does not cover any metabolic modulators outside the specific list provided, such as Ly294002, rottlerin, dichloroacetate, rapamycin, everolimus, or temsirolimus.
- Does not cover non-pharmaceutical or non-synergistic applications of these compounds.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The patent identifies that cancer cells have unique metabolic requirements that can be exploited; by pairing an NDGA derivative with a metabolic inhibitor, the researchers create a 'double-hit' that prevents the cancer from compensating for the drug's effects.
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 cancer treatments using M4N derivatives
Combination therapies involving mTOR inhibitors like everolimus
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents a shift toward combination therapies in oncology, where researchers look for ways to make existing drugs more potent by pairing them with complementary agents. By leveraging the specific metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, this approach seeks to improve survival rates for common cancers like breast, prostate, and lung cancer. It highlights the ongoing academic and clinical effort to repurpose or enhance plant-derived compounds for modern medical use.
Filed
January 8, 2009
Granted
June 26, 2018
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Johns Hopkins University holds the intellectual property, and the research builds upon long-standing investigations into NDGA. Pharmaceutical companies developing mTOR inhibitors, such as Novartis (which manufactures everolimus), operate in the same therapeutic space by exploring how these drugs can be combined with other agents to overcome resistance.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the broader trend of targeted combination therapies in oncology. It provides a framework for researchers to test specific synergistic pairings, potentially leading to new clinical trial protocols for patients who have developed resistance to single-agent chemotherapy or targeted therapies.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to treat cancer by combining a derivative of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)—specifically M4N or maltose-M3N—with a metabolic modulator. A metabolic modulator is a drug that changes how cells process energy, such as rapamycin or everolimus. The key innovation is that these two components work together synergistically, meaning the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. By targeting the energy metabolism of rapidly dividing cancer cells while simultaneously introducing the NDGA derivative, the treatment aims to shrink tumors and stop them from spreading (metastasis).
The clever bit
The patent identifies that cancer cells have unique metabolic requirements that can be exploited; by pairing an NDGA derivative with a metabolic inhibitor, the researchers create a 'double-hit' that prevents the cancer from compensating for the drug's effects.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of NDGA derivatives alone without a metabolic modulator.
- Does not cover metabolic modulators used in isolation for cancer treatment.
- Does not cover any metabolic modulators outside the specific list provided, such as Ly294002, rottlerin, dichloroacetate, rapamycin, everolimus, or temsirolimus.
- Does not cover non-pharmaceutical or non-synergistic applications of these compounds.
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
11/20
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
$47K – $150K
Midpoint $94K · 2.6 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
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kimura, K., & Huang, R. C. C. (2018). Using Plant-Derived Chemicals and Metabolic Drugs to Fight Cancer (U.S. Patent No. RE46,907). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/RE46907/descovy-taf-ftc
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 Plant-Derived Chemicals and Metabolic Drugs to Fight Cancer cover?
A medical patent describing a combination therapy that pairs specific plant-derived compounds with metabolic drugs to kill cancer cells more effectively than either could alone.
Who owns patent US RE46907?
Johns Hopkins University owns this patent, granted in 2018.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 26, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US RE46907 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents a shift toward combination therapies in oncology, where researchers look for ways to make existing drugs more potent by pairing them with complementary agents. By leveraging the specific metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, this approach seeks to improve survival rates for common cancers like breast, prostate, and lung cancer. It highlights the ongoing academic and clinical effort to repurpose or enhance plant-derived compounds for modern medical use.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of NDGA derivatives alone without a metabolic modulator.
Same assignee
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