A patent review of GDF15 inhibitors 2020-present

INTRODUCTION: Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a secretory protein of the TGF-β superfamily that signals through the GFRAL/RET receptor complex. It plays a dual role in metabolic regulation and immune tolerance, with elevated levels frequently associated with chronic inflammatory conditions, advanced cancer, and cachexia. AREA COVERED: This review analyzes the patent landscape for GDF15 inhibitors from January 2020 to present. The patents reviewed were originally written in English and classified according to different functional categories and disease types. We searched for 'GDF15 inhibitor' on Patentscope and Espacenet. EXPERT OPINION: Monoclonal antibodies currently dominate the landscape due to their high specificity and favorable safety profile, showing significant clinical promise in treating cancer cachexia and overcoming resistance to checkpoint inhibitors. However, challenges such as high production costs and the need for parenteral delivery and its consequences are driving a shift in the research toward simpler molecular structures. Emerging trends suggest that peptides and peptidomimetics offer a viable alternative by maintaining high selectivity while being available through cost-effective synthesis that also allows for tunable properties.