DBI Protein Modulation Methods for Autophagy and Metabolic Regulation
Summary
The USPTO published patent application US20260097094A1 disclosing methods for modulating diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) protein activity to regulate autophagy and metabolic processes. The inventors demonstrate that DBI neutralization via monoclonal antibodies or active immunization induces autophagy, enhances starvation-induced weight loss, reduces food intake upon refeeding, and reduces weight gain from hypercaloric diets. The patent covers pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic applications for metabolic disorders.
What changed
The patent application discloses that diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) protein, released via unconventional autophagy-dependent secretion, regulates autophagy and metabolic pathways including glycolysis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation. The inventors claim methods of modulating DBI activity using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies or active immunization with immunogenic DBI derivatives to induce autophagy and achieve metabolic effects such as enhanced starvation-induced weight loss and reduced weight gain from high-calorie diets.\n\nFor pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, this patent application represents potential IP risk in the autophagy modulation and metabolic therapy space. Competitors developing DBI-targeting therapeutics or autophagy inducers for metabolic disorders may need to conduct Freedom to Operate analyses or pursue licensing negotiations upon patent grant.
What to do next
- Monitor for patent grant status and potential blocking patents in autophagy/metabolism space
- Review Freedom to Operate if developing related therapeutic candidates
- Track related patent applications from the same inventors
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
METHODS FOR INHIBITING DIAZEPAM BINDING PROTEIN
Application US20260097094A1 Kind: A1 Apr 09, 2026
Inventors
Guido Kroemer, José Manuel Bravo San Pedro
Abstract
Autophagy is typically activated by starvation, allowing cells and organisms to mobilize their energy reserves. It is known that pharmacological modulation of autophagy represents a therapeutic potential. Here the inventors report that a protein that is released from cells in an unconventional, autophagy-dependent manner, namely, diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI), regulates autophagy. In particular, the inventors demonstrate that DBI inhibits autophagy and that the supply of recombinant DBI to mice enhanced glycolysis, enhanced lipogenesis, and inhibited fatty acid oxidation. The inventors show that neutralisation of DBI by a monoclonal antibody and an active immunization by means of an immunogenic DBI derivative eliciting autoantibodies induce autophagy and lead to metabolic changes that increase starvation-induced weight loss, reduce food intake upon refeeding, and reduce weight gain in response to hypercaloric diets. Accordingly, the present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for modulating autophagy based on the modulation of the activity or expression of DBI.
CPC Classifications
A61K 38/17 A61K 39/0005 A61K 39/39 A61P 3/04 C07K 16/18 C07K 16/286 G01N 33/68 A61K 2039/505 A61K 2039/545 C07K 2317/21 C07K 2317/24
Filing Date
2025-05-28
Application No.
19221186
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