Drug Delivery & Targeting e.g. Nanoparticles - Subtopic Landscape

A synthetic biology perspective

The subset of SynBio – drug delivery related patents were further investigated to identify subtopics and assess trending areas. The topic model leverages a hybrid approach based on the optimised extractive summary for each publication. Using a combination of topic discovery via fine-tuned transformer based deep learning and ground truth cross referencing via keyword and classification codes. The process enables a patent to belong to more than one topic for accurate multi-classification trends, accounting for multiple invention embodiments. Please see the topic model page for further details regarding the topic model methodology to avoid duplication here.

Subtopic counts

The identified subtopics within the drug delivery topic are shown in figure 1. The topics are ranked based on the total number of published applications since 2015. A patent application can be counted more than once as it can belong to multiple topics.

The classification of documents across the top 5 subtopics are as follows; antibody uses/therapeutics (58.6%), cancer related (57%), drug-peptide (29.4%), pegylated (28.8%) and fusion proteins (28.7%). Nearly 57% of the patents identified were classified within the cancer related subtopic. Nanoparticles are an emerging drug delivery platform for cancer treatment and diagnosis, with improved drug delivery, imaging and enhanced immunotherapy potential. Almost 59% of patents were classified within the antibody uses/therapeutics topic. Antibodies can be conjugated to nanoparticles, drugs, etc. and can also be used to target gene delivery vectors to specific cells or tissue during gene therapy.

Nearly 30% of documents were classified in the pegylated topic. Pegylated nanoparticles (coated with polyethylene glycol) are targeted drug delivery vehicles with improved circulation time and reducing immunogenicity. Other technologies such as drug-peptide, liposomes and lipid nanoparticles represent important delivery vehicles. Fusion proteins (28.7%) and antibody drug conjugates are important therapeutics. There exists a microorganisms focus with the delivery of antivirals and antimicrobial peptides and compounds. Nanoparticles can also be used for gene / genome editing and may be used to treat cancer, where bacteria benefit from enhanced permeability and retention within tumours.

The drug delivery subtopic publication year trends are shown in figure 2. Publication trends discussed below are based on EP A1/A2 applications, identified patents can belong to more than one subtopic due to multiple invention embodiments.

In figure 2 the fastest growing subtopics identified of note and based on compound annual growth rates during 2016-24 are lipid based nanoparticles (39.3%), genetically modified microorganisms (36.4%), antivirals (28.7%), vaccine related (28%), immunotherapy peptides & receptors (t-cell) (27.6%), gene therapy (27.3%), interfering nucleic acids (27.2%), fusion proteins (27%), other compounds, pharma, etc. (26.7%), gene expression regulation (26.4%) and antimicrobial peptides & compounds (25.6%).

Subtopic top 20 assignees distributions (published since 2015)

The patent portfolios of the top 20 assignees within the SynBio – drug delivery dataset are analysed in figure 3. The portfolios are restricted to publications during 2015-24, mapped to the subtopics identified, the counts represent total EPO publications.

The heatmap in figure 3 reveals the distribution of the top 20 assignees since 2015, publications can be assigned to more than one subtopic, reflecting multiple invention embodiments. MODERNA is a leading assignee for gene therapy (136 publications), lipid based nanoparticles (179 publications), liposomes (148 publications) and pegylation (168 publications). SEAGEN has the largest distribution in the antibody drug conjugates subtopic (89 publications), while ALNYLAM has the largest distribution in the interfering nucleic acids subtopic (129 publications).

The analysis does not account for earlier publications prior to 2015, which may have contributed to companies developing market share, etc. and potential licensing and acquisitions (subsidiaries). The analysis is an informative guide as some specific subtopics have strict content boundaries to enable differentiation, whilst others are broader to capture more generic areas.