# US 10,478,415 B2 · Ketone bodies to protect tissues from damage by ionizing radiation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,415 B2 - Document ID: US10478415B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/403,982 - Filed: 2017-01-11 - Published: 2017-07-13 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-05 - Assignees: Tdeltas Limited; The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services - Applicants: Tdeltas Limited; The United States of America, AS Represented By the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services - Inventors: Richard Lewis Veech; Kieran Clarke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478415B2 ## CPC - A61K 31/22: of acyclic acids, e.g. pravastatin - A61P 39/00: General protective or antinoxious agents - A61P 39/02: Antidotes - A61P 39/06: Free radical scavengers or antioxidants - A61P 43/00: Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS ## Abstract Described herein is the surprising discovery that ketone bodies protect cell and tissues from ionizing radiation. Based on this finding, methods of protecting animal tissue and cells from damage caused by radiation exposure are disclosed which include, contacting the tissue with a therapeutically effective amount of an agent including at least one ketone ester, thereby protecting the tissue from radiation damage. Ketone esters can be used to minimize, reduce and/or prevent tissue damage following intentional and accidental radiation exposure, as well as increasing the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapies by protecting non-target tissue from incidental radiation damage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of protecting animal tissue from damage caused by radiation exposure, comprising contacting the tissue of a subject in need thereof with a therapeutically effective amount of an agent, wherein the agent is: wherein n and m are 3; or wherein n is 3; thereby protecting the tissue from radiation damage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method protects a subject exposed to a radioactive substance or ionizing radiation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein contacting is performed at least one of before, during or after exposure to radiation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein contacting comprises administering to the subject in need thereof the agent within two weeks prior to exposure to radiation, during radiation exposure, and/or within two weeks following radiation exposure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein contacting comprises administering to the subject in need thereof the agent within four days prior to radiation exposure, during radiation exposure, and/or within about one day following radiation exposure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation comprises an acute or chronic dose of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the ionizing radiation results from nuclear fission or fusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the ionizing radiation comprises X-rays. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the ionizing radiation comprises radionuclides. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method enhances the therapeutic window for radiotherapy in the subject, comprising contacting tissue of the subject with the therapeutically effective amount of the agent including at least one ketone ester prior to the radiotherapy. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation exposure comprises diagnostic X-rays, radiation therapy, a CAT-scan, a mammogram, a radionuclide scan, or an interventional radiological procedure under CT or fluoroscopy guidance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation exposure comprises tissue-incorporated radionuclides from ingestion of contaminated food or water, non-medical or unintentional exposure to ionizing radiation from a nuclear weapon, non-medical or unintentional exposure to a radioactive spill, cosmic radiation, and/or space flight-associated radiation expose. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 10) The method of claim 1 or claim 10, wherein the agent is administered topically, buccally, intraocularly, orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously, intraarterially, transdermally, intranasally, rectally, peritoneally, or by inhalation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1, 10) The method of claim 1 or claim 10, wherein administering the compound raises the blood ketone body concentration to between 0.1 mM and 20 mM. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein administering comprises administering from about 5 grams to about 70 grams of the compound. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein administering comprises administering from about 70 milligrams to about 5 grams per kilogram of the subject's body weight. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein administering comprises administering from about 1 gram to about 4 grams per kilogram of the subject's body weight. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein administering comprises administering 130 grams to about 170 grams per day to the subject. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein administering comprises administering 150 grams per day to the subject.