GB2290235A - Treatment of sickle cell disorders using aromatic urea compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Phenylurea, benzylurea and phenylethylurea or a meta- or para-positioned ring substituted homolog of each in which one hydrogen is substituted by a methoxy, methyl or hydroxyl radical are used to treat sickle-cell anaemia and other sickling diseases. Administration of said compounds is by intravenous injection, orally or rectally. Formulations may further include L-ascorbic acid which acts as an antioxidant and prevents the in vivo formation of N-nitroso compounds.

Description

PALLIATION OF SICKLE: CELL DISORDERS BY PHENYLUREA, BENZYLUREA, OR PHENYLETHYLUREA OR BY A HOMOLOG RING-SUBSTITUTED WITH ONE METHOXYL, METHYL, OR HYDROXYL RADICAL This invention is directed to the novel use of arylurea compounds and aralkylurea compounds consisting of phenylurea, benzylurea, and phenylethylurea or by a meta-or para-positioned, ring-substituted homolog of each in which one hydrogen is substituted by one methoxyl, methyl, or hydroxyl radical, for the palliation of sickle cell anemia and other human suckling diseases (These compounds will sometimes be referred to hereinafter as the aromatic ureas or the aromatic urea compounds.) The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical formulations containing these aromatic urea compounds.

This invention concerns the conception of and constructive reduction to practice for therapeutic use of phenylradical (C6H5-) or phenolic-radical (HOC6H4-) or methoxyphenylradical (CH3OC6H4-) or tolyl-radical (CH3C6H4-) unicyclic compounds in which the radical is linked directly to urea, as Nsubstituted aromatic urea alone or with one methyl (-CH2-) or one ethyl (-C2H-) linkage between the benzenoid nucleus and the urea group.Such aromatic urea compounds are viewed as amphiphilic, by possessing both the phenyl or phenolic (or methoxyphenyl or tolyl) lipophilic or hydrophobic#m@laty and the urea hydrophilic moiety, and they are conceived to have substantial inhibitory activity against polymerization of deoxygenated or hypoxic Hbs molecules (sickle hemoglobin molecules) within intact human red cells in vitro and in vlvo, at relatively low concentrations between 1 and 12 or 22 mM and at normal human body temperature of 370C and at near--normal or normal pH.

It is. conceived that these lipophilic but somewhat water-soluble and hydrophilic non Ionized arylureas and aralkylureas will diffuse sufficiently across the red-cell plasma membrane barrier to exert antigelling and antisickling effects, by intracellular inhibition of deoxy I4bS polymerization, cell stiffness, and cell sickling. The mediated means of action is conceived to be at least partly by aromatic-acting noncovalent chaeotropic competition at the key site to deoxy Hbs polymer formation, l.e. Insertion of the beta 6 valine of one hemoglobin tetramer into the hydrophobic acceptor pocket involving the beta 88 leucine and beta 85 phenylalanine group on an adjacent tetramer, and at other hydrophobic sites of deoxy Hbs molecules.Reference is made to page 664 of Dean and Schechter, 1978, for definition of noncovalent chaeotropic agents and also to Ross and Subramanian, 1977, and Russet et al, 1966, for antisickling sites and also @o I)eutlcke, 1968, for reference to nonionized amphiphilic agents which may alter detrimentally the shape or life of human erythrocytes.

It is also conceived that these arylureas or aralkylureas will exert greater antipolymerizing effect in deoxy, intact homozygous Hbs cells and deoxy IIbSt red cells than will urea, methyl urea, ethylurea, propylurea, and butylurea as aliphatic ureas or alkylureas Intracellularly (in vitro testing of aliphatic ureas, see Chang et al 1983, and Elbaum et al, 1976) or with purified deoxy Hbs solutions (in vitro testing of aliphatic ureas, see Poilion, 1980). Noncharged or non-eletrolytic aromatic urea and aralkylurea compounds have not been tested to date for antipolymerizing effect on deoxy Hbs in cell-free solution 6r in intact deoxy libS red cells.In in vitro testing @@ noncharged aromatic ureas, this inventor has initially warmed or heated to 45-650C for several minutes water mixtures of only moderately high millimolar concentrations of phenylurea, benzylurea, or phenylethylurea compound or of their monosubstituted homologs to enhance solubility, before test use at room temperature or 37 0C.

Because these aromatic urea compounde display both bydrophilic and moderately lipophilic properties, in contrast to the very hydrophilic and quite lipophobic properties of urea1 itself, it is contemplated that these aromatic ureas will not cause very substantial detrimental effects of crenation (echinocytosis) of erythrocytes or hemolysis at the relatively low levels1 under 12 to 22 mM required to inhibit suckling.

It is also conceived that these amphiphilic arylureas or aralkylureas will have much lower renal plasma clearances than urea in man because of their much greater lipophilic nature and the much greater passive tubular back diffusion of plasma-borne aromatic urea compound delivered by renal glomerular filtration.

Therefore1 the aromatic ureas will be lost by kidney excretion at a much lesser rate than urea. Therefore, pharmacokinetically, one or moe of the arylureas or aralkylureas may be administered effectively to human beings as antlsickling drug daily by mouth or by vein in divided doses of up to about 0.5 g/kg/24 hours. The arylurea and aralkylurea compounds may display hypnotic effects but for the purpose of the invention can lead to substantial beneficial effects in the serious suckling disorders in doses low enough to avoid severe hypnotic or other serious adverse effect.

To achieve a very efficacious antisickling blood plasma level of srylurea or- aralkylurea of about 5.0 mM, e.g. of m- or pmethoxyphenylurea, the administration of about 0.50 g/kg of body weight should be required acutely1 if one assumes equal distribution of arylurea or aralkylurea compound chiefly in most body water at equilibrium and an average normal water content of 608 of body weight and very Moor renal excretion or loss of the arylurea or aralkylurca antisickling agent. With cumulative effects from daily doses much lower than 0.50 g/kg, human plasma levels of the order of magnitude of 3.5 to 5.0 mM may be readily -achieved in.a few days if there is very poor daily renal excretion or body loss of the compound.

Prior art incitides the laboratory findings of non-aromatic aliphalic urea-induced inhibition of deoxy Hbs polymerization and gelatlon of purified hem@@@@bin S in solution and in intact erythrocytes, with reduced red ceil rlexihility as tested by reduced filterability through S pm pore-diameter membrane filters. O@ the aliphatic.alkylureas, butylurea has been reported by Chang el al (1983) to be the most potent and effective in vitro at 50 and 100 mM.However, no clinlcal trials have been reported to date with butylurea and I have found that 50 to 100 nIM levels cause IbSS hemolysis in vitro upon 37 C incubalion and standing for 1 to 2 hours at room temperature. Many other chemicals and drugs have been tried since 1910 to prevent or treat the suckling syndromes including slckle cell anemia and sickle cell vaso-occlusive crises (see references by Chang et al In 1983, Aluoch in 1984, and Forget in 1992); these drugs include some other noncovalent inhibitory agents. however, no noncovalent antipolymerizing drug has yet been develuped with satisfactory criteria of efficiency1 safety, and dependability as therapy for the sickling disorders.

Prior art has also shown that the solubility of deoxygenated HbS in the presence of various nonelectrolyte'allphatic ureas correlates directly with the individual partition coefficient of each agent (Abraham, 1982) and therefore with its lipid solubility (Davson, 1959). However, the relationship of the inhibitory actlon of aromatic ureas and aralkylureas (upon hypoxic Hbs red cell gelation and sickling] to the part it ion coefficient of the aromatic urea at 37 C studied in vitro has not been described before this invention.

Specifically, the aromatic uree compounds of the present invention may be represented by the following formula I

The present invention includest the use of the above aromatic urea compounds of formula I in treating sickle cell disorders in humans and in the preparation of compositions for such treatment pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and commercial packages containing the compounds together with instructions for the treatment of sickle cell disorders.

Administration of any of the arylureas and aralkylureas for novel antipolymerizing use in serious sickling disorders may be performed by well-known techniques including oral administration, rectal administration and intravenous injection.

However, the present invention contemplates novel pharmaceutical formulation for intravenous injection and also for oral administration in tablet, capsule, and liquid form, and for rectal adminlstration in solid suppository form or in retention enema liquid @arrier form.

The novel formulation tJaR include L-ascorbic acid as supplemental ingredient in usual daily dose of about 10 mg/kg for young children and of up to about 0.5 g to 1.0 g total daily for subjects weighing of the order of 50 or more kg The incorporation of L-ascorbic acid in the therapeutical preparations if so three distinct purposes: 1) as antioxidant agent for stabilization of the active arylurea or aralkylurea while with@n the formulated state and when the active urea agent is initially dispersed within the human body, 2) as concurrent nutritional, antioxidant agent for symptomatic, stressful sickle cell disorders while avoiding large or mega-therspeutic amounts of more than about 1 g dally for adults (Pauling, 1974a Repka and Hebbel, 1991), and 3) as concurrent preventive agent to block possible Nnitroso formation by blocking the reaction of the active aromatic urea agent with possible nitrite in the acid-catabolized environment of the stomach - if the nitrite is contained in ingested foods - or with possible nitrite arising endogenously (Mirvish et al., 19723 Mirvish, 197S1 Bartsch et al., 1988).

Ascorbic acid is known to prevent the formation of N nitro@o product from the reaction of the secondary amine group in aliphatic ethylurea with added nitrite at very low pH of about 2.5 (Synnott et al., 1975). Possible in vivo formation of N-nitroso compound from reaction of the secondary amine group of the aromatic ureas depicted In formula I through 3 with nitrate (even by conversion of exogenous nitrate to nitrite by microorganisms) or of the secondary amine group of the aralkylurea agents depicted in formulas 4 through 9 is contemplated to be preventable by the concurrent formulated use of ascorbic acid.Protective use of ascorbic acid has been shown against hepatotoxicity induced by comblned oral administration of nitrate and aminopyrine, a tertiary amine (Kamm et al, 1973). The rare possibility of carcinogenis, mutag@@@@, or hepatotoxic effect from N-nitrosation, or even C-nitrosation with the nitroso radical (-NO) arising from reaction of the monohydroxy aromatic homologs in an acidic environment with nitrlte is contemplated to be preventable. This is by concurrent administration of the ascorbic acid at pH near 5.0 to 7.0 in a liquid formulation, or in solid form of oral tablet or capsule or of solid rectal suppository form.

A novel elixir formulation containing about 4% (v/v) n-butyl alcohol for oral carrier use of the active aromatic urea ingredient and of ascorbic acid is also contemplated. This Is for the novel additional purpose of the formulation containing the alcohol precursor of butyrflc acid, for likely modest genic bone marrow stimulation of fetal globin production in some individuals with serious beta-globin disorders including hemoglobin S production. This is so that more hemoglobin F may be produced that is found in the circulating erythrocytes. Butyric acid and precursor butyrate derivatives, but not n-l)utyl alcohol, have been suggested for amelioraling human suckling syndromes (Perrlne et al., 1994).

Prior art shows that absorbed n-butyl alcohol is converted rapidly in vivo to its oxidized product of butyric acid to apparently small accumulated millimolar or sub-millimolar levels in circulating blood (Waugh, 1993). The novel oral administration of an elixir containing about 43: 1-butanol is therefore suggested for the dual functions of carrier of arylurea or aralkylurea for direct antipolymerizing effect and precursor for end-produict butyrate stimulation of genic induction of fetal hemoglobin.

Alternatively, the novel elixir formulation can contain about 8% by volume of 95% ethyl alcohol for oral carrier use of the aromatic urea ingredient and for ascorble acid delIvery. Liquid formulation for rectal use of retention enema by catheter insertion is contemplated to consist usually of the aromatic urea medicament and supplemental ascorbic acid, modestly buffered, in 2-t1mes greater concentrations than used for oral elixir formulation. The carrier vehicle consists of a mixture of water and about 10% by volume propylene glycol. Retention enema dosage for a young child will be about 10 to 30 ml two or more times dally.

ihe desired daily dose In tablet, capsule, or liquid form is preferably presented as between two and four sub-doses, given orally with water or liquid. Alternatively, the aromatic urea or aralkylurea antisickling agent may be injected slowly by vein at appropriate intervals throughout the 24 hours. A daily dose for a human weighing 50 kg or more generally is contemplated to be 2 to 15 g of tile aromatic urea or aralkylurea compound; this amounts to no more than about 0.04 g/kg to 0.30 g/kg of the active antisickling ingredient administered.Optimally, a human daily dose is contemplated to consist of two or three unit sub-doses of 0.5 to 3 g each of the active urea agent ingredient when administered to an adult subject by mouth.or by vein only. Daily dosage will be dependent in part uon the antipolymerizing potency of the aromatic urea ingredient, in part upon Its pharmacokinetics, and in part upon the clinical seriousness of the sickling syndrome in the given subject.

Present art classifies both tile parent homologs, phenylurea and benzylurea, as compounds of only moderate toxicity by ingestion of hazard rating 2. Carcinogenic, mutagenic, or hepatogenic serious adverse effects are not listed (Sax's, 1992, vol. Il & vol. 111).

The invantion is the use of the aromatic urea compound, consisting of mono-aromatic phenyl-radical or the meta-positioned or para-positioned monohydroxyphenolic-radical or monomethoxyphenyl-radical or monomethylphenylradical attached lo one nitrogen of the urea molecule, either directly or with one methyl or ethyl group intervening, For substantial noncovalent inhibition of deoxygenated hemoglobin S polymerization inside human erythrocytes. This inhibitory effect occurs when the aromatic urea agent is delivered at low millimolar concentrations into the extracellular fluid bathing the red blood cells within physiologic ranges of blood pil and temperature.The invention is for palliation and beneficial therapeutic effect in sickle cell anemia and other sickling syndromes. hemoglobin S (libS) polymerization is said to be the primary determinant of the hemolytic and clinical severity of the sickling syndromes. (Brittenham et al, 1985).

The novel and useful inhibitory parent homologs are phenylurea, benzylurea, and phenyl ethyl urea. There are six monohydroxy benzenoid homoloys also for this novel and beneficial use. These six are meta-hydroxyplienyl urea, para-hydroxyphenylurea, meta-hydroxybenzylurea, para-hydroxybenzylurea, metahydroxyphenylethylurea, and para-hydroxyphenylethylurea. There are also six monomethoxyl benzenold homologs and six inonometilyl benzenoid homologs for this novel and beneficial use.These 12 are mota- and para-methoxyphenylurea; meta- and para-methoxybenzylurea; meta and para-methoxyphenylethylurea; metaand para-methylpflenyl urea; meta- and para-methylbenzylurea; and meta- and para-methyihenylethylurea.

Commercially avallable sources are available far some of these arylureas and aralkylureas. Pllenylurea is available for purchase from Aldrich Chem. Co.

of Milwaukee, WIS, Pfaftz & Bauer, Inc. of Waterbury, CT, and ICN Biomedicais, Inc. of Irvine, CA. Benzylurea is available from Aldrich and Pfaltz & Bauer.

Meta-hydroxyphenylurea is available from Aldrich and ICN Biomedicals. Metaand para-tolylurea are available from ICN Blochemicals. The arylurea and aralkylureas may be synthesized by known methods. Such a method is the Wohler reaction with the intramolecular transformation of the aromatic amine cyanate as the immediate precursor into the urea. This synthesis may be done with the aromatic amine free base.and equivalent amount of free mineral acid or use of hydrochloride or hysirosulfate precursor salt and mixing with aqueous potassium cyanate in equtmolar amounts, with filtration or evaporation to dryness and purification form absolute alcohol (Buck, 1934; Buck, Hjort and de Beer, 1935). Aqueous sodium cyanate may be used Instead.Precursor free bases of meta- and para-methoxyanlline (g- and p-anisldtne) may be purchased from Slyma Chemical Co. of St. Louis, MO, from Aldrich, and from Pfaltz & Bauer. Metaand para-methylaniline. meta-methylaniline sulfate, and para-methylanillne hydrochloride are obtalnable from Pfaltz & Bauer and para-methylaniline hydro chlorIde is also obtainable from Sigma. If the precursor chemicals are colored, they may be purified by known method of use of organic solvent. A precursor to make phenyiethylurea is phenylethamlne hydrochloride, available.

from Aldrich and the precursor para-hydroxyphenylethylamine hydrochloride (tyramine HCl) may be purchased from Aldrich, Pfaltz & Bauer, and Sigma.

N-monosubstituted aromatic and aralkyl ureas may also be synthesized by reacting the primary aromatic or aralkyl amine with silicon tetralsocyanate according to the method of Seville and McGee, 1963.

The utility of the above 21 arylureas and aralkylureas as antisickling compounds is novel in that they are aromatic urea derivatives that are essentially non ionized or nonelectrolytes at physiological human blood pil ranges and in that they are amphlphtlic with the characteristic of belng moderately both lipid soluble and water soluble at low millimolar levels at 25 and 37 C. The hydrophilic nature of these arylureas is viewed as important in the inhibitory intracellular action of these agents on hypoxic or deoxygenated I4bS tetramers in inhibiting polymerization, since their inhibitory potency generally varies inversely with their octanol/saline or oil/saline partition coefficient. however, the hydropliobic or llpophilic nature of these compounds is viewed as paramount to the benzenoid antipolymerizing effect of these homologs.This conceptlon for nonelectrolyte amphiphilic aromatic ureas to require dual hydrophilic and hydrophobic functions in order to exert substantial intracellular antipolymerizing activity against deoxygenated IJbS erythrocytes at low millimolar concentration without serious adverse red cell side-effects is novel. This novel invention applies particularly to the invented-use, inunohydroxy-substituted and monomethoxy-substituted arylamines possessing the phenolic-radical or the methoxy-radical. Aromaticity is not a sufficient condition for inhibiting polymerization of deoxy MbS even in cell-free solution.Prior art has shown that phenol by#itself enhances gelatin and reduces the solubility of denxygenated HbS in cell-free solutions (Noguchi & Schechter, 1978).

By laboratory reduction to practice, these antisickling arylureas and aralkylureas are found not to be mostly bound to blood plasma proteins (see Table 9 of Example 11); also, they were found not to cause detrimental, marked crenation (echinocytosis) or hemolysis of human erythrocytes at low millimolar levels.Importantly also. the monohydroxy and monowethoxy homologs of these compounds are conceived as potentially causing less central nervous system side-effects such as sedation or hypnosis when administered for antisickling therapeutic effects, because of their more polar nature with one monohydroxyl or monomethoxy group, which restricts diffusion of lipophilic molecules across the blood-brain endothelial vascular barrier. Past art tn mice with phenylurea, para-hydroxyphenylurea, and para-methoxyphenylurea supports this thesls (Buck et al, 1935).

Prior art is not known to me that details the pharmacokinetics of these Arylureas and aralkylureas in homeothermic animals or man. However, from reasoning of analogy with prior art concerning normal urea kinetics and urea pharmacokinetics in man, much of the pharmacokinetics I have conceived or predicted for two or more potent antipolymerizing arylureas viz met a- hyroxyphenylurea and benzylurea has been in vitro demonstrated as prototypical agents for useful treatment doses in man. This has been demonstrated by determinations of thelr percentage binding to plasma proteins (which is modest or moderate, see Table 9 in Example 11) and by determinations of their lipid/water partition coefficients (see Table 10 of Example 12).

The body of clearance of some of these monocyclic arylureas, e.g. at least of meta- and para-methoxyphenylurea, and some of these aralkylureas, e.g. at least of benzylurea, is conceived to be almost entirely or chiefly by partial nonreabsorption of kidney filtered arylurea or aralkylurea, similar to renal excretion of urea after urea glomerular filtration. The octanol/saline part it ion coefficlents of meta-hydroxyphenylurea and banzylurea average about 1.65 and 4.10, respectively (see Table 10 of Example 12).Prior art reports that the octanol/water partition coefficient of urea is 0.011 and that the partitioning between octanol and water for urea and aliphatic ureas gives suit able agreement between biological and pharmacological results (Abraham. 1982). The average relative octanol/water distribution coefficient (ratio of aromatic urea to urea) calculates as 1.65/0.011 or about 150/1 for meta-hydroxyphenylurea and calculates as 0.57/0.011 or about 52/1 for para-hydroxyphenylurea and calculates as 4.10/0.011 or about 373/1 for benzylurea on Example 12 of effective model.Therefore, it is conceived that the renal tubular back-diffusion of filtered met an hydroxyphenylurea and para-hydr.axyphenylurea is much greater than, and perhaps at ieast io times @@@@@@@ then, back-diffusion of filtered urea and perhaps at least about 10 to 20 times greater for benzylurea than the tubular reabsorption of filtered urea.

Such kinetic relationships indicate that the renal excretion and renal plasma clearance of meta-hydroxyphenylurea and para hydroxyphe,nylrea and similarly of meta- and para methoxyphenylures average predictably much less than the urea values and that the renal excretion and renal plasma clearance of benzylurea also average much less than and perhaps no more than about 10% of the urea values in man.

Prior art has established that renal whole blood and plasma clearances of urea in normal man at diuretic urinary flows average about 1.1 ml/min/kg or about 1.6 liters/24 hrs./kg ("maximum" renal urea clearances) when glomerular filtration rate is at normal average value of 1.6 ml/min/kg or about 2.3 liters/24 hr./kg of body weight in adults and children after 3 years of age.

Assuming body loss of administered arylurea is wholely or mainly by renal excretion of the unchanged agent, maximal daily intakes of about 0.8 mmoles of monohydroxyphenylurea or monomc-!thoxyphenylurea (0.1 x 3.5 mM x 2.3 liters) per kg and of about 0.8 mmoles of benzylurea (0.1 x 3.5 mM x 2.3 liters) per kg are required to maintain blood plasma levels of about 3.5 mM for these two arylureas and for benzylurea. The dosage gram amount of 0.8 mmoles/kg/24 hr. for monomethoxyphenylurea is 0.13 g/kg/24 hr and the dosage gram amount of 0.8 mmoles/kg/24 hr for benzylurea is 0.12 g/kg/24 hr. At a continued intake as high as 0.8 mmoles/kg/24 hr, accumulative rises to blood plasma and whole blood levels of 3.5 mH or more is contemplated to result if blood clearance of the administered aromatic urea anti-sickling agent is mainly by renal loss and if the renal loss is substantially less than an assumed rate of about 10% of the normal renal clearance rate for urea in man.

Prior toxicologic art reports that acutely injected LD50 for para hydroxyphenylurea in mice is 6.0 mmoles/kg (0.91 g/kg) and that introduction of a monophenolic hydroxy group caused the sedative and other hypnotic properties of phenylurea to disappea,- (Buck et al, 1935). The acutely injected LD50 for phenylurea in mice is reported variously to be 0.75 g/kg (Buck et al, 1935) and to be 1.45 g/kg (Zirvi h Fakouhi, 1977). Prior art also reports that at dose levels below 0.30 g/kg in mice, there is no descernible central nervous system depressant activity. A subsedative intraperitoneal dose of phenylurea is 0.20 g/kg in mice (Zirvl & Fakouhi, 1977).Prior art reports that the LD50 after acute injection into mice is 3.0 mmoles/kg (0.45 g/kg) for benzylurea and 3.0 mmoles/kg (0.49 g/kg) for phenylethylurea (Buck eL al, 1935). Prior art reports that the LD50 after.

acute intraperitoneal injection into mice is 5.5 nimoles/kg (0.91 g/kg) for para-methoxyphenylurea (Buck et al, 1935).

Prior art also reveals that after oral administration acutely, the LD50 for benzylurea is 2.50 g/kg, 4.41 g/kg, and 2.70 g/kg in mice, rats, and rabbits (Gorianova et al, 1979); in chronic experiments, benzylurea at 1.0 mg/kg had no toxic effects.

I have shown in vitro that the suckling or deformation of deoxygenated HbSS erythrocytes can be Inhibited substantially at low levels between 3.5 to 7 mM of meta-hydroxyphenylurea, para-hydroxyphenylurea, para-methoxyphenylurea and phenylurea, and between 10 to 12 nZ of benzylurea; also, the Inhibitory effects are dose-dependent (see Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Examples 3, 4, 5 and 6).

I have also shown in vitro, that significant improvement in flexibility of hypoxic HbSS erthrocytes, as measured by cell filterability studies monitoring filtration pressure at constant flow rate, is caused by meta hydroxyphenylurea at low levels under 11 nM (see Example 7), by benzylurea at low levels under 23 mM (see Example 8), by para-hydroxyphenylurea (see Example 9), and para-methoxyphenylurea under 18 mM (see Example 10). Such preventive antigelation effects in intact llbSS erythrocytes are shown to be dosedependent also (see Examples 7, 8 and 10). At such levels of these three arylureas and one aralkylurea, microscopic examination showed no more than slight membrane crenation (echinocytosls).

Prior art reveals that, in subjects with chronic sickle cell anemia, the bones, joints, and spleen are mostly exposed to vaso-occluslve crises and to painful syndromes even at rest. The prior art shows also that mean mixed venous-blood 02 gas tensions are about 46.5 mm Hg even at rest In these subjects, with profound, upper limit levels of physiological comlsensatory mechanisms (Lonsdorfer et al, 1983).My invention shows that significant and substantia) inhibitory effects on cel '. stiffness and sickling, induced by low POz (partial oxygen pressure) levels in vitro that are comparable to those found in mixed venous blood in prior art studies In vivo, are accoml)Iished by means of modest mM levels of select arylureas in vitro. Therefore, tiie data contained in Tables 1 through 8 of the Examples is evidence U,at induced low millimolar blood concentrations of antisickling aromatic urea agent will be useful and beneficial in tile palliation of human suckling disorders.

Improvement is contemplated to occur even at sustained modest blood levels as low as 1 to 3 mli of the inhibitory.urea compound in the circulating blood in sickle cell disease In viva. Prior art has shown that sustained and irreversible red cell damage develops and anemia is intensified because of continuous or cyclic hemoglobin S polymerization (sickling) and depolymarizalion (unsickling) in the circulating blood in sickle cell disease as the blood is deoxygenated in peripheral tissues and re-oxygenated in transil through the lungs (Zipu?sky et al, 1993). Low levels of 1 to 4 mM inhibitory aromatic urea compound should decrease the magnitude of this continuing adverse cyclic process in sickle cell disease.

Ihe following Example I of Pharmaceutical FonnuIatIons is described in illustration of the present invention; it should not be construed as in any way constituting a limitation thereof.

EXAMI'LE 1 Pharmaceutical Formulations A. LABLET Comnosition: Urea Compound 1.0 y Ascorbic Acid 40 mg Starch 150 mg Sucrose 100 nig Polyvinylpyrrol idone (PVC) 15 mg Magnesium Stearate 15 mg Total 1.320 g The urea compound, ascorbic acid, starch, and sucrose are mixed together and then granulated with a solution of PVC in water. After drying the granules, the magnesium stearate is mixed in and the tablets compressed at an average weight of 1,32 g. Keep tablets in tightly closed bottles.

B. CAPSULE Composition: Urea Compound 250 wig Ascorbic Acid 10 mg Starch 5 mg Methyl cellulose 400 cps, 5 mg Stearic Acid 5 mg Total 275 wig The urea compound, ascorbic acid, and starch are mixed together and then @r@nulated with r solution of the methylcellulose in water. After drying, the granules are mixed with the stearic acid and the mixture filled Into gelatin capsules at an average fill weight of 275 mg. Keep in-tightly closed bottles.

C. SUPPOSITORY Composition: Urea Compound 2.0 g Ascorbic Acid 80 mg Dibasic Sodium Phosphate 150 mg Cocoa Butter 4.0 g Total 6.23 g Grind the urea compound, ascorbic acid, and one sodium salt to a partIcle size below 200 . Add the cocoa butter at 40 to 45 C. Mix to give a Uniform dispersion. Pour into suppository moulds and allow to cool.

O. INJECTION - Single Dose. Intravenous: Urea Compound 250 mg Sodium Chloride 350 mg Ascorbic Acid 10 mg Dibasic Sodium Phosphate 30 mg Monobasic Sodium Phosphate Monohydrate 10 mg Total 650 my Water q.s. to 50 ml, vul.

Suspend the above solid compounds in about 45 ml of the water for injection and warm to about 45*C with stirring gently to dissolve. With cooling to 25 C, add sufficient water to required final volume of 50 ml.

SLerilize by passage through a sterile membrane Filter of 0.2 micron pore size. Fill under aseptic conditions into a light-resistant vial or ampul to final volume of 50 ml per container. Store optimally at temperature between 15 and 30 C (59 - 86 F.). Inject the 50 m@ warmed solution of aromatic compound of 0.5 g/dl slowly over 5 to lo minutes.

E. ORAL ELIXIR Composition; Single Dose: Urea Compound 180 mg Ascorbic Acid 10 mg Sucrose 200 mg 1-Butanol 1.00 ml Water q.s. to 25.0 ml The urea compound, ascorbic acid, and sucrose are mixed into a warmed (to 45-655C) volume of 4.0X (v/v) soln. of n-butyl alcohol, for dissolution of the solid compounds. Upon cooling, more 4.0X n-butyl alcohol soln. is added to final volume of 25.0 ml per 0.18 g of urea compound. The final solution should be stored in a light-resistant container, not exposed to air.

Single 25-ml doses orally should be followed by drinking about 50-ml or more of water or other liquid per 10 to 20 kg of child body wt.

The following Examples 2 through 13 are provided in Table form in illustration of the present invention. None of the Examples 2 through 13 should be construed as in any way constituting a limitation thereof.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of para-methoxyphenylurea 0.25 mole (16.93 g) of sodium cyanate was dissolved in distilled water (150 ml). 0.25 mole (30.80 g) of purified para-Methoxyaniline as off-whIte crystals (obtained as Grade I p-Anisidine free base from Sigma, FW 123.2) was dissolved with stirring in 275 ml of distilled water, after prior addition of 21.43 ml concentrated hydrochloricacid (specific gravity 1.184) to yield a solution containing equimoles (0.25 mole) of hydrochloric acid.The sodium cyanate solution was added with stirring at room temperature to the formed solution of para-methoxyanil ine hydrochlorid,e; whitish crystallization was produced prompt@y, After aten@ing at room temperature overnight (12 hr). the reaction mixture was cooled to crushed-1ce water temperature (2-3 C) for a period of 30 mln. The precipitated solid was separated by cold filtration through a sintered glass funnel with suction. The well-drained white product was added to 150 ml of warm absolute ethyl alcohol, promptly heated at 70-720C with stirring for ready dissolution of the crystals. The alcoholic mixture was cooled and kept at crushed-lce water temperature for two hours.The recrystallized product was separated by cold filtration through a sintered glass funnel with suction. The drained product was dried by evaporation. Yield of para-methoxyphenylurea was 34.82 g (83.9% of 0.25 mole) as white crystals devoid of cream color or other chromatic hue, m.p. 165-1660C from absolute ethanol.

EXAMPLE 3 Antisickling potency of amphiphilic ureas in vitro when partial deoxygenation is induced by metabisulfite.

Aliquots of heparinized blood from 8 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (RbSS) (1 male, 7 females) wete used. Median patient age was 9 years (range 5 to 18). Tickling was induced by addition of sodium metabisulfite to 8.1 mM to duplicate 200 ul aliquots of whole blood diluted 22/78 (v/v) with isotonic buffered saline-glucose solution containing no urea agent or containing amphiphilic aromatic urea agent at 3.5 to 10 mM, or butylurea at 100 mM final concentration as known antisickling agent. The samples, at pH 7.0 - 7.1, were incubated for 30minute periods at 37 C. Gelles were then fixed by anaerobic addition of 400 1 of 3.7% formaldehyde in buffered isotonic saline.Aerated control blood aliquots with 22/78 (v/v) additions of isotonic saline-glucose solution without sodium metabisulfite were concurrently incubated at 37 C and then fixed with the 3.7% formaidehyde-saline solution. @@@ @@ll @@@pe was examined mleroscopically at 705 X magnification by counting the shape of 400 erythrocytes. Induced sickling was counted as slckled/blzarre/ovoid red cells newly formed during the 30-minutes of hypoxia. Counting results of red cells wore expressed as percentages. Tests with 3.5 mM meta-hydroxyphenylura and with butylurea were carried out with blood from only 6 and 7 patients, respectively. The results are given in Table 1.These results show that meta-hydroxyphenylurea, phenylurea, and benzylurea are potent inhibitory agents at concentrations much lower than found with 100 niM butylurea.

Table 1. Effects of amphiphilic ureas as inhibitors of sickling at 37 C induced by partial deoxygenation, with metabisulfite added to 8.1 mM Percent newly Percent relative Condition sickled cellsau inhibitory activityD (%) (X) Control state 56.8 * 3.7 0.0 m-Hydroxy- 37.4 # 4.0c 31.4 # 3.5c phenylurea, 3.5 mM m-Hydroxyphenylurea, 7.0 mM 33.6 # 3.9c 39.6 # 4.7c Phenylurea, 3.5 mM 44.1 # 3.0c 22.3 # 2.9c Phenylurea, 7.0 mM 40.5 # 2.7c 29.4 # 3.0c Benzylurea, 10 mM 46.4 # 3.8c 17.5 # 2.3c Butylurea, 100 mM 36.8 # 4.3c 36.7 # 3.5c aNewly sickled cells were averages of newly formed sickled/bizarre/ovoid red cells during 30-minute periods of induced hypoxia done in duplicate (pll 7.0 - 7.1).

Control aerated state sickllng was 19.5 # 4.0X.

bValues are means + SEM in paired determinations in Hbs blood from 8 patients, except for 3.5 mM-OH-phenylurea and for butylurea, where n was 6 and 7, respectively. Mean hematocrit was 21.1 # 1.5%.

CMean differences from new sickling of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.001.

EXAMPLE 4 Inhibitory potency of amphiphilic aromatic urea compounds and butylurea invitro on sickling induced by hypoxia by means of low oxygen gassing-.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 9 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (6 males, 3 females) were used. Median patient age was 8 years (range 5 to 19). Sickling was induced by change of gas phase above the liquid samples from room alr to 45-minute periods of gassing wILh liumidlfied 5% 02/95% N2. Used were duplicate aliquots, located in series, of blood diluted 22/78 (v/v) with isotonic buffered sallne-glucuse solution containing no urea agent (control) or containing as the urea agent, metahydroxyphenylurea, meta-tolylurea (meta-methylphenylurea), phenylurea, benzylurea, or 50 mM butylurea.Gasslngs of 1.0-ml sample mixtures wore performed in 7-ml siliconized glass bottles (each containing one small stainless steel ball) positioned on a platform oscillating at 51 times/min immersed in a water bath at 37- C. Aerated (room air) sample mixtures were incubated concurrently. Control blood sample mixtures were similarly Incubated with room air aeration or with 5X 02 gassing, for sample gas oxygen tension and pll measurements at the end of the incubation periods. Red cell fixation in the blood-solution mixtures at the end of the test periods was performed by addition of 400 l of 3.7X formaldehyde-buffered saline solution.This was carried out during continued 5X 02/95X N2 gassing of the hypoxic samples. Subsequently, microscopic counting of the shape of 400 erythrocytes was carried out for each test sample, as described in Example 3 above. ked c;il counting results sere similarly expressed as percentages.

Tests with meta-tolylurea and butylurea were performed with blood from only 6 and 8 subjects, respectively. The results are given in Table 2. The inhibitory potency results indicated that 5 mM meta-hydroxyphenylurea was greater than 12 H benzylurea, which was approxlmately equal to 50 mM butylurea, which was greater than 5 mM meta-tolylurea, which in turn was approximately equal to 5 mM phenylurea fn inhibitory activity.

Table 2. Inhibitory effects of aromatic ureas and butylurea on suckling induced by hypoxia to low oxygen pressures of 44.6 + 1.2 mm llg, by gassing with humidified 5X 02/95% N2 at 37-C Percent newly Percent relative Condition sickled cellsa@ inhibitory activityD (%) (%) Control state 27.@ # 4.9 0.0 m-Hydroxyphenylurea, 5.0 mM 12.5 # 3.1c 57.4 # 5.6d Benzylurea, 12 mM 16.5 # 3.9c 44.7 + 6.4d Phenylurea, 5.0 mM 23.4 # 4.9c 17.9 # 5.9c m-Tolylurea, 5.0 mM 21.9 # 7.0c 24.1 # 7.1c Butylurea, 50 mM 16.7 * 3.9c 44.9 + 4.3d newly suckled cells were averages of newly sickled/bizarre/ovoid red cells during 45 minutes of hypoxia done in duplicate. Control aerated suckling was 13.6 + 3.0X at P02 of 143.9 * Z.3 mm @@g and pH of 7.25 t 0.02; p1l was 7.39 + 0.02 (n 9) after 5% 02 gassing for 45 minutes.

bValues are means # SEM in paired analyses of homozygous Hbs blood from 9 subjects, except for m-tolylurea and butylurea, where n was 6, and 8, respectively.

Mean hematocrit was 23.0 * 1.9%.

CMean differences from new sickling of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.01.

dMean differences from new sickling of control hypoxia state are significant at P-value < 0.001.

EXAMPLE 5 Inhibitory effects of meta-hydroxyphenylurea, para-hydroxyphenylurea, and para-hydroxyShenylethylurea on sickling induced by hypoxia by means of low oxygen gassing.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 5 subjects with homozygous sickle cell anemia (3 males, 2 females) were used Median patient age was 12 years (range 6 to 15). Red cell suckling was induced as described in Example 4. The procedures used were also as described in Example 4, but with blood diluted 22/78 (v/v) with isotonic buffered saline-glucose solution containing no -urea agent (control) or containing meta-hydroxyphenylurea, parahydroxyphenylurea, or Ixara-hydroxyphenylethylurea as the urea agent. Red cetl counting results were similarly expressed as percentages in these paired tests. The results are given in Table 3.The inhibitory potency results showed that 7 mM ineta-hydroxyphenylurea was greater than 7 mM parahydroxyphenylurea, which was more effective than 7 mM para hydroxyphenylethylurea, and showed that the inhibitory potency was doserelated. Table 3 also shows that the inhibitory activity of parahydroxyphenylurea on hypoxic suckling was substantial at concentrations as low as 3.5 mM.

Table 3. Inhibitory effects ofmeta-hydroxyphenylurea, para-hydroxyphenylurea, and para-hydroxyphenylethylurea on sickling increased by hypoxia to low oxygen pressures of 40.9 # 0.5 mm @@g, by gassing with humidified 5% 02/95% N2 at 37 C Percent new@y. Percant relative CondItion suckled cellsab inhibitory activityb (%) (X) Control state 45.5 * 7.6 0.0 m-Hydroxyphenylurea, 7.0 mM 16.2 # 3.4df 65.0 # 3.0e p-Hydroxyphenylurea, 7.0 mM 27.4 i 5.5df 42.7 + 4.6e p-Hydroxyphenylurea, 3.5 mM 29.1 # 5.4d 36.9 + 2.5e p-Hydroxyphenylethylurea, 7.0 mM 32.4 + 6.1c 29.8 + 4.7d p-Hydroxyphenylethylurea, 14.0 mM 27.6 # 5.5c 40.7 # 5.1e aNewly sickled cells were averages of newly sickled/bizarre/avoid red cells during 45 minutes of hypoxia done in duplicate. Control aerated sickling was 15.4 + 2.9% at P02 of 141.6 + 1.5 mm @@g and pll of 7.21 i 0.01; pll was 7.34 # 0.01 (n S) after 5% 02 gassing for 45 minutes.

byalues are means i SEM in pat red analyses of homozygous I4bS blood from 5 subjects. Mean hematocrit was 22.5 + 1.2%.

CMean differences from new sickling of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.02.

dMean differences from that of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.01.

eMean differences from that of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.001.

mean difference between values for the two ureas is significant at P-value < 0.02.

EXAMPLE 6 Inhibitory effects of para-methoxyphenylurea and para-methoxybenzylurea on sickling indeced by hypoxia by means of low oxygen gassing.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 6 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (2 males, 4 females) were used. Median patient age was 12 years (range 4 to 15). Red cell suckling was induced as described in Example 4. The procedures used were also described in Example 4. but with blood diluted 15/85 (v/v) with isotonic buffered sallne-ylucose solution containJ.tig no urea agent (control). or containing para methoxyphenylurea or para-methuxyphenyle tliyl urea. Red cell counting results were similarly expressed as percentages in these paired tests. The results are given in Table 4. The inhibitory potency results showed that para-methoxyphenylurea was more affective than para-methoxyphenylethylurea, that the effectiveness was dose-related, and that para-methoxyphenylurea was significantly inhibitory at concentrations as low as 4.2 mM.

Table 4. Inhibitory effects of para-methoxyphenylurea and para-metiloxybenzylurea on suckling induced by hypoxia to low oxygen pressures of 45.2 # 1.3 mm iig at pH 7.27 + 0.01, by gassing with humidified 5X 02/95% N2 at 37 C -.. -' Percent newly Percent relative Condition slckled cells inhibitory activity (%) (%) Control state 41.9 + 8.4 0.0 p-Methoxy@ phenylurea, 8.5 mM 33.5 t 8.8a 37.7 + 10.2C p-Methoxy phenylurea, 4.2 mM 39.9 + 8.7b 24.6 @ 1 8.3d p-Methoxy benzylurea, 8.5 mM 38.4 + 8.9a 25.7 + @ @d Control aerated sickling was 12.2 # 4.7X at P02 of 150 + 1.4 mm Hg and p@@ of 7.19 # 0.01 at 37'C, at the end of the concurrently performed hypoxic gassing periods of 45 minutes.

Values are means # SEM in paired experiments in vitro using mixtures with 15X homozygous Hbs whole blood from 6 subjects. Mean hematocrit was 22.6 + 1.3%.

aMean differences from new sickling of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.001.

bMean difference from that of control hypoxic state is significant at P-value < 0.005.

CMean difference from that of control hypoxic state is slgnlficant at P-value < 0.02.

dMean differences from that of control hypoxic state are significant at P-value < 0.05.

EXAMPLE 7 Inhibitory effects of meta-hydroxyphenylurea on hypoxic increases .in-filtratton pressure at constant flow through small pore-diameter filters, as a deformability index of hypoxia-induced hemoglobin SS polymerization.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 6 patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia (4 males, 2 females) were used.

Median patient age was 6.5 years (range 5 to 11). Hypoxia was induced in duplicate aliquots, located in series, of blood diluted 11/89 (v/v) with isotonic buffered saline-glucose solution containing no urea agent (control) or containing metahydroxyphenylurea at two different mM concentrations. Gassings were carried out as described in Example 4 and then constant flow perfusions of aliquot mixtures were carried out 2-3 minutes after aerated periods or after 45-minute periods of hypoxic gassings.

The constant flow perfusions were performed in plastic membrane devices (Pop-Top holders) each containing a 5 pm pore-diameter Nucleopore membrane filter at 370C. The filtration pressure resulting from constant flow perfusion and filtration was measured closely upstream from the filter holder. Pressure measurements were used at 42 seconds of perfusion-filtration at a flow rate of 0.55 ml/42 seconds1 as an inverse index of the flexibility or deformabllity of the red blood cells to pass pore openings, somewat smaller than the average diameter of normal human erythrocytes.Prior art has shown that the deformability of red cells containing hemoglobin SS varies inversely with the degree of hemoglobin SS polymerization, which varles directly with the amount of induced deoxygenation. The results are given in Table 5. The results showed that 10 mM mota-hydroxypl)enylurea markedly inhibited the hypoxic stiffness of IIbSS red cells and that the inhibitory activity was dose-related, 5 mM being effective to a lesser extent.

Table 5. Inhibitory effects of meta-hydroxyphenylurea on hypoxic increases in fIltratIon pressure at constant flow through 5 m pore-dlameter filters, as erythrocyte deformability index of hemoglobin SS polymerization Hypoxic Gain Condition Filtr P.* Filtr P.* Percent Relative (No of subjects) Oxy Deoxy-Oxy Inhibitory Activity (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (%) Control state 4.3 t 0.6 65.5 1 5.6 0.0 (n - 6) m-Hydroxyphenyl - urea, 5 mM 3.2 # 0.6 55.6 # 4.2ac 19.7 # 2.1bc (n @ 4) m-Hydroxyphenyl urea, 10 mM 4.6 # 0.8 30.1 # 4.8bc 55.6 # 4.6bc (n @ 5) Values are moans + SEM at 42 seconds with HbSS whole blood-reagent mixtures in 11::89 ratios (v/v) perfused at 0.55 ml/42 sec through 5 pm pore-diameterNucleopore membrane filters at 37-C. Constant perfusions of aliquots were done 2-3 minutes after aerated periods (oxy) or 2-3 minutes after 45-minutehypoxic periods (deoxy).

Perfusate hematocrits were 2.4 + 0.1X (n = 6).

Filtr Prepresents filtration pressure closely upstream from the filter holder device (Pop-Top), positioned at 2t angle at 37*C.

aMean difference from that of paired control state is significant at P-value C 0.02.

bMean differences from that of paired control state are significant at P-value < 0.005.

CMean differences between paired values at the two concentrations of agent are significant at P-value < 0.01 (n - 3).

EXAMPLE 8 Inhibitory effects of benzylurea on hypoxic increases in filtrat1on pressure at constant flow through small pore-diameter filters, as a deformability index of hypoxia-lnduced hemoglobin SS polymerization.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 4 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (3 males, 1 female) were used.

Median subject age was 10 years (rsnge 6 to 19). Hypoxia was induced as described in Example 7 and procedures used were similar to those described in Example 7 but with the test blood mixtures containing benzylurea at two different concentrations. Results are shown in Table 6. The inhibitory activity of benzylurea on hypoxia-induced stiffness of homozygous hemoglobin S red cells was dose-related, at low mM concentrations.

Table 6. Inhibitory effects of benzylurea on hypoxic increases in filtration pressure at constant Flow through 5 m pore-diameter filters, as erythrocyte deformability index of hemoglobin SS polymerization Hypoxic Gain Condition Filtr P.* Filtr P,* Percent Relative (No of subjects) Oxy Deoxy-Oxy Inhibitory Activity (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (%) Control state 18.3 # 4.2 66.3 # 8.5 0.0 (n = 4) Benzylurea, 15.1 mM 16.7 # 3.1 57.8 # 9.9a 14.6 # 6.2ad (n = 4) Benzylurea, 22.1 mM 16.0 # 2.8 49.7 # 9.2c 27.3 # 6.3bd (n = 4) Values are means i SEM in paired experiments at 42 seconds with HbSS whole blood-reagent mixtures in 11:89 ratios (v/v) perfused at 0.55 ml/42 sec through 5 m pore-diameter Nucleopore membrane filters at 37'C. Constant perfusions of al iquots were done 2-3 minutes after aerated periods (oxy) or 2-3 minutes after 45minute hypoxic periods (deoxy). Perfusate hematocrits were 2.2 * 0.2% (n - 4).

Filtr P represents filtration pressure closely upstream from the filter holder device (Pot)-Top), positioned at 20' angle at 37'C.

aMean dIfferences from that of control state are significant at P-value c 0.05.

bMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.025.

CMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.001.

dMean difference between values at the two concentrations of agent is significant at P-value < 0.025.

EXAMPI.E 9 inhibitory effects of para-hydroxyphenylurea and parahydroxyphenylethylurea on hypoxic increases in filtration pressure at constant flow through small pore-diameter filters, as a deformability index of hypoxia-Induced hemoglobin SS polymerization.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 4 patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (2 males, 2 females) were used. Median subject age was 12 years (range 6 to 15). Hypoxia was induced as described in Example 7, and similar procedures were used, but with the test blood mixtures containing equimolar concentrations of 21 mM para-hydroxyphenylurea or para-hydroxyphenylethylurea. Results are shown in Table 7. Para-hydroxyphenylurea was substantially more effective than para-hydroxyphenylethylulea iI) preventing hypoxia-induced stifFness of homozygous hemoglobin 5 red cells.

Table 7. Inhibitory effects of equimolar concentrations of para-hydroxyphenylurea and para-lIydroxyphenylethylurea on hypoxic increases in filtration pressure at constant flow through 5 m pore-diameter filters, as erythrocyte deformability index of hemoglobin SS polymerization Hypoxic Gain Condition Filtr P , Filtr P Percent Relative (No of subjects) Oxy Deoxy-Oxy Inhibitory Activity (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (%) Control stale 7.3 + 1.0 79.3 + 9.1 0.0 (n - 4) p-Hydroxyphenylurea, 21.0 mM 6.3 # 0.9 45.0 # 7.7bc 44.0 # 4.7bc (n p-llydroxyphenyl ethylurea, 21.0 mM 6.7 # 0.8 65.3 # 8.7bc 16.2 # 3.0ac (n = 4) Values are means I SEM in paired experiments at 42 seconds with IbSS whole blood-reagent mixtures in 11:89 ratios (v/v) perfused at 0.55 ml/42 sec through 5 m pore-diameter Nucleopore membrane filters at 37'C. Constant perfusions of aliquots were done 2-3 minutes after aerated periods (oxy) or 2-3 minutes after 45minute hypoxic periods (deoxy). Perfusate hematocrits were 2.5 # 0.1% (n = 4).

*Filtr P represents filtration pressure closely upstream from the filter holder device (Pop-Top), positioned at 20 angle at 37 C.

aMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.02.

bMean differences from that of control state are significant at P-value < 0.005.

cMean differences between values for the two ureas are significant at P-value < 0.01.

EXAMPLE 10 Inhibitory effects of para-methoxyphenylurea on hypoxic increases in filtration pressure at constant flow through small pore-diameter filters, as a deformability index of hypoxia-induced hemoglohin SS polymerization.

Aliquots of heparinized whole blood from 6 subjects with homozygous sickle cell disease (2 males, 4 females) were used.

Median subject age was 12 years (range 4 to 15). Hypoxia was induced as described in Example 7 and similar procedures were used, except for control and test blood-reagent mixtures used in a 15.85 ratio (v/v) and perfusion-filtration was performed at a different rate of 0.60 ml/22 sec through the 5 pm pore-diameter Nucleopore membrane filters at 370C. Pressure rise measurements at 20 seconds of perfusion-filtration were used as an inverse index of the flexibility or deformability of the red blood cells to pass pore-openings somewhat smaller than the average diameter of normal human erythrocytes. The results are given in Table 8.

The results show that the significant inhibitory activity of paramethoxyphenylurea is dose-dependent in preventing hypoxia-induced stiffness of homozygous hemoglobin S red cells. Comparison with the results in Example 8 suggest that para-?nethoxyphenylurea is more effective than benzylurea at eguimillimolar blood concentrations.

Table 8. Inhibitory effects of para-methoxyphenylurea on hypoxic Increases in filtration pressure at constant flow through 5 m pore-diameter filters, as erythrocyta deformability index of hemoglobin SS polymerization Hypoxic Gain Condition Filtr P.* Filtr P,* Percent Relative (No of Subjects) Oxy Deoxy-Oxy Inhibitory Activity (mm Hg) (mm Hg) (%) Control State 14.3 i 3.3 80.0 + 13.6 0.0 (n - 6) p-Methoxyphenyl- 10.6 I 2.5b 65.8 + 14.3a 22.2 + 7.0a urea, 12.0 mM (n - 6) p-Methoxyphenyl- 9.1 # 1.9a 57.0 # 11.8c 30.7 # 4.8d urea, 17.0 mM (n - 6) Values are means + SEM at 20 seconds with IIbSS whole blood-reagent mixtures in 15::85 ratios (v/v) perfused at 0.60 ml/22 sec through 5 m pore-diameter Nucle@pore membrane filters at 37 C. Constant flow perfusions were done 2-3 minutes after aerated perlods (oxy) or 2-3 minutes after 45-minute hypoxic periods (deoxy).

Initial perfusate hematocrits were 3.4 # 0.2%.

*Filtr P represents filtration pressure closely upstream From the filter holder device (I'op-Top), position at 20 anyle at 37 C.

Oxy state mean perfusate PO2 was 150.7 i 1.7 ntm ilg and mean pH was 7.18 + 0.02 (n = 6). Deoxy state mean perfusate P02 was 44.8 # 1.1 mm Hg and mean pilwas 7.26 + 0.02 (n = 6).

aMean differences from that of control state are significant at P-value < 0.05.

bMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.02.

cMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.005.

dMean difference from that of control state is significant at P-value < 0.001.

EXAMPLE 11 Percentages of nonprotein-bound and ultrafiltrable amphiphilic arylureas and aralkylurea in sickle cell blood plasma after exogenous additions.

In order to measure the extent of plasma proteln binding of prototypical amphiphilic antisickling aromatic urea compounds at low millimolar levels, test were carried out in vitro.

Aliguots of heparinized blood plasma obtalned from both male and female young patents with homozygous slckle cell disease were used. The blood plasmas were mixed in a volume ratio of 70/30 with control 40 mM phosphate-buffered isotonic saline reagent of pH 7.3 containing no urea compound or mixed in a 70/30 volume ratio with similar reagent solution also containing meta- or parahydroxyphenylurea or benzylurea.Plasma protein-binding or ultraflltrability was determined by the percentage of the aromatic urea compound which passed through Centricon-iO centrifugal concentrator devices, of nominal molecular weight membrane cutoff of 10,000 (Amicon, Inc., Beverly, MA, U.S.A.). the centrifugal separations were carried out at 370C. Measurements of the concentrations of aromatic urea compounds that were recovered in the ultrafiltrates were done by ultraviolet spectrophotometry at 255 nm or by spectrophotometry at 450 nm using a modification of a colorimetric method for arylamines (Waugh & Beall, 1974).

The results are given in Table 9. These results revealed average plasma protein bindings of these organic urea compounds of between about " to 14% Table 9. Percent nonprotein-bound and ultrafiltrable meta-hydroxyphenylurea, para hydroxyphenylurea, and benzylurea in sickle cell blood plasma at 37-C m-Hydroxy p-Hydroxy phenylurea, phenylurea, Benzylurea, 4.2 mM 4.2 mM 13.5 mH Percent ultrafiltrable 86.1 + 1.5* 92.7 i 3.0* 88.8 + 2.0 [89.7 # 1.6] [96.4 # 3.1] [92.5 # 2.2] Values are means + SEM in determinations in IlbSS blood plasma from 8, 6, and 7 subjects, respectlvely.The actual plasma protein concentrations used during the analyses were 70% of the initial plasma protein values of 7.82 + 0.29, 7 42 + 0.21, and 7.74 # 0.23 g/dl, respectively.

Listed ultrafiltrable, recovery values are corrected for plasma water volume displacement by protein using 0.730 as the mean specific volume of plasma proteins.

The values listed In brackets are found values before correction for the water displacement effects.

EXAMPLE 12 Partition coefficients of select amphiphilic urea analogues which posess antisickling activity.

In order to determine the relative solubility of some amphiphilic aromatic urea compounds at low millimolar concentrations and of butylurea at 40 mM, analyses were carried out at 37' C using 1-octanol and vegetable oil as lipid solvents and buffered isotonic saline solution of pil 7.3 as water solvent. One volume part of the water solvent solution containing one of the organic urea compounds in the dissolved state was added to one volume part of the lipid solvent and the mixture mixed vigorously at 37 C for 3 minutes by "means of a vortex mixer. Water/lipid solvent phase separations were then don2 by centrifugations at high speed. Concentrations of the organic urea compounds in the water phase before and after mixing with the lipid phase were detenuined spectrophotometrically. Concentrations in the lipid solvent phases were determined by found differences in the water phases before and after mixing. Distributions were expressed as ratios of the solute concen trations in the two phases. Results are shown in Table 10 The uctanol/saline partition coefficients were highest for meta-tolylurea, pheny- lurea, and benzylurea, with average partition coefficlents of 19.2, 7.3 and about 4.0, respectively, for these three aromatic urea compounds.

Table 10. Partition coefficients of amphiphilic urea analogues at 37 C* Partition Coefficients Analogue Concn (mM) Octanol/Saline Oil/Saline Meta-hydroxy- 2.0 1.72 + 0.06 0.014 + 0.003 phenylurea 10.0 1.60 F 0.02 0.014 + 0.001 Para-hydroxy- 4.2 0.57 i 0.03 0.009 i 0.009 phenylurea Phenylurea 2.0 7.26 # 0.28 0.211 # 0.010 Meta-tolylurea 2.0 19.2 # 0.40 0.211 # 0.016 Benzylurea 2.0 4.30 # 0.46 0.060 # 0.005 10.0 3.89 # 0.09 0.032 # 0.003 Para-hydroxy- 4.2 1.26 # 0.02 0.022 # 0.009 phenyl ethyl urea Butylurea 40 1.64 # 0.28 0.660 1 0.151 Distributions were performed at 37 C with 1-octanol and oil as lipid solvents and buffered saline soln. of pH 7.3 as water solvent (1 part lipid solvent to 1 part sallne soln.). Data are expressed as mean + SEM of 6 experiments with each pair of solvents. The o@ used was soybean oil (Wesson brand); the saline soln. conslsted of (in RM): NaCl 82, KCl 3.7, Na211P04 32, Nait2P04 8.0, and MgSO4 0.6.

EXAMPLE 13 Toxicity Data P,-ara-methoxyphenylurea was administered orally to 3 male and 3 female rabbits in gelatin capsules acutely to total agent dose of 0.35 g/kg. The compound was given in a formulation of 1.00 g para-methoxyphenyluera per 0.040 g L-ascorbic acid per 0.010 g sucrose and per 0.010 g stearic acid. Ingestion of the capsules did not result in acute hypnotic effects or other apparent adverse effects. Over a post-dosing observation period of 14 days, all rabbits remained active and healthy in appearance.

Rabbit body weight averaged 3.04 + 0.44 kg before the acute dosing and averaged 3.10 + 0.41 kg (mean + 6.E.M.) 14 days later.

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Claims (14)

1. THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE

   PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. A use for treating a sickle cell disorder in a human in need thereof of an effective amount of a compound of formula I

   wherein R is hydrogen, hydroxy, methyl or methoxy at the meta- or para-position and x is O, 1 or 2.
2. 2. A use according to claim 1 wherein the sickle cell disorder is sickle cell anemia.
3. 3. A use according to claim 1 wherein said effective amount is not more than 0.5 glkg of body weight/24 hours.
4. 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the human has erythrocytes containing a utent hemoglobin S molecule and said effective amount is sufficient to provide a blood concentration in the range of from 1 to 22 mM.
5. A s @ pharmaceutical composition comprising, as active ingredient, a compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
6. 6. A composition according to claim 5 further comprlslng nbutyl alcohol.
7. 7. A composition according to claim 5 further comprising Lascorbic acid.
8. 8. A composition according to claim 5 in dosage unit form wherein the unit contains from 250 mg to 2.5 g of said active ingredient.
9. 9. A composition according to claim 5 in a dosage unit form suitable for rectal administration.
10. 10. A composition according to claim 6 or 7 in dosage unit form wherein each unit contains from 500 mg to 4.0 g of said active ingredient
11. 11. A process for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising admixing a compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.
12. 12. A commercial package comprising as active ingredient a compound of formula I as defined in claim 1 together with Ansttuctions for the use thereof in the treatment of a sickle cell disorder in a human.
13. 13. A use of a compound according to claim t in the preparation of a medicament for treating a sickle cell disorder in a human.
14. 14. Compounds according to claim 1 for use in therapy.