Sun Yat-sen University to Transfer Patent for Pentadecanoic Acid-Based Atherosclerosis Prevention and Treatment Technology for RMB 50,000

Recently, Sun Yat-sen University released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, proposing to transfer“Application of Pentadecanoic Acid in the Preparation of Products for Treating and/or Preventing Atherosclerosis”Relevant patents have been assigned to Symbiotic Microecology Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., with a transfer amount ofRMB 50,000. The inventor of this patent isXiangyu Mu and Ziyue Ma。

The assignee of this patent isSymbiotic Microecology Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., is a high-tech enterprise focused on technological R&D, achievement transformation, and full-chain services in the field of microecology, and is an emerging company with forward-looking strategic layout in the field of microecological translation technology in China. WithCore Technology of Symbiotic Co-Fermentation for 27 Probiotic StrainsSupported by collaborative partnerships with leading research institutions such as National Taiwan University, Waseda University, and Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, we provide comprehensive microecological solutions covering the entire value chain: “strain selection and cultivation, R&D, product commercialization, and health services.” Our core offerings include probiotic symbiotic conversion preparations, human microbiome testing, and precision health management, complemented by extended services such as microecological technology consulting and technology transfer. This establishes an integrated framework of “R&D – Product Implementation – Clinical Adaptation,” tailored to diverse health scenarios including gut health regulation, sub-health improvement, and the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine formulas.

Atherosclerosis, as the core pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, has prevention and treatment outcomes that directly impact disease progression and long-term prognosis in patients. With the proliferation of unhealthy lifestyles, the condition is showing a clear trend toward affecting younger populations, creating an increasingly urgent clinical demand for highly effective and safe prevention and treatment strategies. However, current mainstream approaches still face significant limitations: on one hand, their mechanisms of intervention are singular, making it difficult to comprehensively address the key pathological processes of the disease; on the other hand, safety concerns associated with certain medications restrict the feasibility of long-term use and patient adherence.

Atherosclerosis, as the core pathological basis of cardiovascular disease, has prevention and treatment outcomes that directly impact disease progression and long-term prognosis in patients. With the proliferation of unhealthy lifestyles, the condition is showing a clear trend toward affecting younger populations, creating an increasingly urgent clinical demand for highly effective and safe prevention and treatment strategies.

However, current mainstream prevention and treatment strategies still have significant limitations. On one hand, the intervention mechanisms are singular, making it difficult to comprehensively cover the key pathological aspects of the disease; on the other hand, some drugs pose safety risks, which limits the feasibility of long-term medication and patient compliance, failing to meet the urgent clinical demand for high-quality prevention and treatment products.

The key bottleneck in current prevention and treatment technologies lies inScarcity of Therapeutic Targets. Currently, statins remain the first-line clinical preference, primarily exerting their preventive effects by lowering blood lipid levels. However, the single pathway of lipid-lowering is difficult to effectively address the complex pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, which encompassesLipid plaque deposition, dyslipidemia, and chronic inflammatory responseThese three core components. Due to the lack of synergistic intervention in these pathological processes, some patients exhibit suboptimal treatment responses, and the progression of vascular lesions fails to be effectively controlled.

Meanwhile, drug safety concerns should not be underestimated. The novel active ingredient pentadecanoic acid (PA) is “relatively less toxic and safer compared with atorvastatin calcium (ATO).” Current potent lipid-lowering drugs may carry potential toxicity risks, particularly with long-term use, which can affect the function of organs such as the liver and muscles, thereby limiting their application in high-risk populations.

In terms of clinical practicality, existing prevention and treatment strategies still have certain limitations. Ideal therapeutic products should offer diverse administration routes to accommodate the needs of different patients. Currently, some medications are available in limited dosage forms, making it difficult to meet the medication needs of special populations, such as those with dysphagia or those requiring rapid onset of action, thereby affecting treatment adherence and overall efficacy.

These issues collectively impede the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, leading to“High potency carries risks, weak safety and efficacy, and incomplete intervention”the difficult predicament. There is an urgent clinical need for a prevention and treatment product featuring multi-target synergistic effects, excellent safety, and flexible dosage forms to address the pain points across the entire continuum from prevention to therapy.

Addressing clinical challenges in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, such as “single-dimensional intervention, prominent safety risks, and inadequate dosage form compatibility,” the research team at Sun Yat-sen University leveraged patented technology“Use of Pentadecanoic Acid in the Preparation of Products for Treating and/or Preventing Atherosclerosis”, proposes an innovative solution with pentadecanoic acid (PA) or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts as the core active ingredient.

This technology has established“Lipid-Lowering + Plaque Reduction + Anti-Inflammation” TrinityThis multi-target synergistic intervention system enhances the comprehensiveness of therapeutic efficacy while demonstrating a superior safety profile compared to traditional drugs. It also supports the development of diverse dosage forms, significantly expanding clinical application scenarios and providing a higher-quality, safer novel option for the full-cycle management of atherosclerosis.

This technology overcomes the limitations of traditional drugs that rely on a single mechanism of action, enabling simultaneous targeting of the three core pathological processes of atherosclerosis: lipid plaque deposition, dyslipidemia, and chronic vascular inflammation. Animal studies have shown that in a mouse model of atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet, intervention with pentadecanoic acid significantly reduced the area of aortic lipid plaques, bringing it close to the levels observed in normal control groups. Meanwhile, it effectively lowered pro-atherogenic lipid markers, including serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), thereby comprehensively optimizing the lipid profile and addressing the narrow target scope of certain traditional lipid-lowering strategies.

More critically, this technologyFirst Revelation of Pentadecanoic Acid’s Ability to Regulate Vascular Inflammatory ResponsesFlow cytometry analysis demonstrated that pentadecanoic acid significantly reduced the proportions of pro-inflammatory monocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺) and macrophages (CD11b⁺F4/80⁺) in the peripheral blood of model mice. This alleviates inflammatory damage to the vascular wall from an immunological perspective, addressing the lack of anti-inflammatory efficacy in traditional lipid-lowering drugs, thereby establishing a complete synergistic preventive and therapeutic loop of “lipid lowering–plaque reduction–anti-inflammation.”

In terms of safety, the CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that pentadecanoic acid exhibits no significant toxicity to HepG2 hepatocytes at a concentration of 100 μM, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of approximately 1.77 mM, which is substantially higher than the potential effective therapeutic concentration. Compared with atorvastatin calcium (ATO), a commonly used clinical lipid-lowering agent, pentadecanoic acid shows lower cytotoxicity, suggesting a better safety profile for long-term administration. This may reduce the risk of liver dysfunction or myopathy caused by adverse drug reactions, thereby improving patient tolerance and compliance.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of pentadecanoic acid (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium salts) exhibit excellent biocompatibility, and the safety of their formulations has been preliminarily validated. They are not only suitable for the general population but also provide a potential alternative for patients with underlying conditions or those intolerant to conventional medications.

To meet diverse clinical needs, this technology features a meticulously designed dosage form system encompassing multiple routes of administration, specifically including:Oral Preparations(e.g., tablets, capsules, granules, solutions, etc.),Injection(injections, lyophilized powder for injection) andTopical Drug Delivery Systems(gels, patches, sprays, etc.). This flexibility effectively accommodates diverse scenarios such as dysphagia, the need for rapid onset of action, or long-term home-based management, significantly improving medication adherence and treatment accessibility.

The formulation process employs established technologies in the pharmaceutical field. For oral preparations, conventional excipients such as starch, microcrystalline cellulose, and sucrose may be used, while lyophilized powder for injection is prepared via sterile freeze-drying processes. The manufacturing processes are stable across all stages, ensuring controllable quality. The patent also clearly specifies the applicable scope of excipients, including diluents, binders, disintegrants, and lubricants, laying a solid foundation for standardized production and quality consistency.

In the current landscape of atherosclerosis prevention and treatment, a competitive pattern has emerged characterized by “traditional lipid-lowering drugs maintaining market stability + innovative therapies breaking through bottlenecks,” with core technological routes diverging into“Intensive Lipid-Lowering,” “Anti-Inflammatory Intervention,” “Multi-Target Synergy”These three major areas. International pharmaceutical giants and biotechnology companies are accelerating their strategic deployment through independent R&D or mergers and acquisitions.

NovartisAcquisition of Tourmaline Bio to Secure Core Candidate DrugPaxibekitug(pacibekitug), an anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody focused on anti-inflammatory therapy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is currently in Phase III clinical trials.

The core mechanism of action of this drug is to significantly reduce high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels by inhibiting systemic inflammation.

Pfizer's Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets, it is the world’s first lipid-lowering drug with annual sales exceeding $10 billion. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996, its indications include hypercholesterolemia and primary/secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). As of 2024, it remains the most prescribed statin globally.