New Haven, Connecticut Patent of the Year – 2024/2025
Aeromics Inc. has been awarded the 2024/2025 Patent of the Year for breakthrough drug delivery targeting the blood-brain barrier. Their invention, detailed in U.S. Patent No. 11873266, titled ‘Methods of treating or controlling cytotoxic cerebral edema consequent to an ischemic stroke’, uses antibodies engineered to bind selectively to aquaporin-4 – a key water channel protein in brain tissue.
This innovation enables precise transport of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier, a major obstacle in treating neurological diseases. By leveraging antibodies that bind aquaporin-4 without disrupting its function, the technology delivers drugs directly to affected brain regions while minimizing systemic side effects.
The approach could transform treatment for conditions like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and brain cancers, where traditional therapies often fail to penetrate brain defenses. Unlike many delivery methods that rely on broad disruption of the barrier, Aeromics’ platform offers targeted, controlled access with improved safety and efficiency.
This patent builds on years of research into membrane protein biology and therapeutic antibody design. It combines high-affinity binding with a modular delivery platform adaptable to various drugs.
Founded in Cleveland, Ohio, Aeromics has focused on translating academic discoveries into real-world treatments. This award-winning patent is a key milestone in their mission to unlock the blood-brain barrier and bring advanced therapies to patients with previously untreatable brain diseases.