Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
  • A61Q3/00—Manicure or pedicure preparations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/045—Hydroxy compounds, e.g. alcohols; Salts thereof, e.g. alcoholates
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K31/00—Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
  • A61K31/185—Acids; Anhydrides, halides or salts thereof, e.g. sulfur acids, imidic, hydrazonic or hydroximic acids
  • A61K31/19—Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
  • A61K8/30—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds
  • A61K8/33—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds containing oxygen
  • A61K8/34—Alcohols
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/18—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition
  • A61K8/30—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds
  • A61K8/33—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by the composition containing organic compounds containing oxygen
  • A61K8/36—Carboxylic acids; Salts or anhydrides thereof
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/02—Local antiseptics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/04—Antibacterial agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/10—Antimycotics

Definitions

• the present invention relates to methods for treating pathological conditions of the nail and compositions useful therefor.
• the invention relates to methods for treating conditions resulting from bacterial or fungal infections of the nail, and compositions useful therefor.
• topical administration of pharmaceutically active agents has often been employed for treating pathological conditions. Many of the concerns associated with other types of administration can often be avoided by topically administering an active agent to a subject in need thereof. For example, reliable delivery of a pharmaceutically active agent to organs or tissues in need thereof via oral administration is often difficult due to variable rates of absorption and metabolism associated with oral delivery. In contrast, topical administration of a pharmaceutically active agent can provide high doses of the active agent directly to the infected area, and often minimizes side effects.
• onychomycosis A particular condition of the nail which remains ineffectively treated is onychomycosis. This condition is a fungal infection of the nail most frequently caused by dermatophytes and molds. Indeed, onychomycosis refers to any dermatophyte infection of the nail plate and includes infection of nails by any fungus, such as yeast, molds, and the like. Onychomycosis results in a discoloration of the finger nails and toe nails which is often accompanied by pain when pressure is applied to the infected nail.
• inventions for treatment of pathological conditions of the nail.
• Invention methods comprise topically applying to the affected area an effective amount of a composition comprising an optionally substituted lower alcohol and an optionally substituted lower carboxylic acid.
• Invention methods effectively treat bacterial or fungal infections of the nail by utilizing a low viscosity composition having the ability to penetrate through and underneath the nail plate, thereby attacking the infection at its source:
• compositions consisting essentially of an optionally substituted lower alcohol and an optionally substituted lower carboxylic acid.
• Invention compositions kill on contact all types of microbes, including fungi and bacteria.
• these compositions are extremely effective in combating pathological conditions of the nail, such as, for example, onychomycosis.
• inventions useful for treatment of pathological conditions of the nail comprise topically applying to the affected area an effective amount of a composition comprising an optionally substituted lower alcohol and an optionally substituted lower carboxylic acid.
• Invention methods are particularly effective in treating conditions caused by microbial infections, such as fungal or bacterial infections.
• compositions employed by invention methods have an inherently low viscosity, thereby rendering the compositions particularly useful for treating infections of the nail.
• the low viscosity of invention compositions allows for enhanced penetration through and under the nail for prevention and treatment of infections.
• Particular infections which are effectively treated by invention methods and compositions include fungal infections, such, for example, onychomycosis.
• Alcohols contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include optionally substituted methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and the like.
• Carboxylic acids contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include formic acid or optionally substituted acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, pentanoic acid, and the like.
• substituents include -OH, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, halogen (e.g., F, Cl, Br, I), NO 2 , cyano, amino, carboxyl, amido, sulfuryl, -C(O)H, and the like.
• alkyl refers to alkyl groups having up to about 6 carbon atoms
• substituted alkyl refers to alkyl groups bearing one or more substituents selected from hydroxy, alkoxy, halogen (e.g., F, Cl, Br, I), NO 2 , cyano, amino, carboxyl, amido, sulfuryl, -C(O)H, and the like.
• alkenyl refers to straight or branched chain hydrocarbyl groups having at least one carbon-carbon double bondj and having in the range of about 2 up to about 6 carbon atoms
• substituted alkenyl refers to alkenyl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth in the definition of "alkyl”.
• aryl refers to aromatic rings having up to about 10 carbon atoms
• substituted aryl refers to aryl groups further bearing one or more substituents as set forth in the definition of "alkyl”.
• alkoxy refers to a group -OR, wherein R is an alkyl group as defined above.
• Preferred alcohols contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include methanol and ethanol. Presently most preferred alcohols contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include optionally substituted methanols.
• Preferred carboxylic acids contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include optionally substituted acetic acid and propionic acid. Presently most preferred carboxylic acids contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include optionally substituted acetic acids.
• invention compositions typically comprise from about 50 wt% to about 90 wt% alcohol and about 10 wt% to about 40 wt% carboxylic acid.
• Preferred compositions comprise about 75 wt% alcohol and about 25 wt% carboxylic acid.
• invention compositions are readily prepared by mixing the desired alcohol with the desired carboxylic acid at room temperature to provide a low viscosity, homogeneous solution. Since the components of invention compositions are low molecular weight compounds, the resulting solutions are often volatile. Accordingly, the solutions should be stored in a suitable vessel, e.g., a septum-capped container, a tightly sealed screw-cap container, and the like. In addition, since invention compositions are quite stable, the compositions can be expected to have very long shelf lives. [0019] The methods and compositions of the present invention are useful in the topical treatment of any bacterial, mycotic, or other microbial infection. Invention methods and compositions are particularly effective in treating infections that have not resulted in an open lesion. As employed herein, the term "microbial infections" refers to fungal infections as well as bacterial infections. Infections effectively treated by the methods and compositions of the present invention include any infections of the nail caused by a fungus, including yeasts and molds.
• Invention compositions can be applied to the affected area in a variety of ways, e.g., by painting the nail, through use of a dropper, and the like. Invention compositions can be administered employing a variety of protocols, e.g., the compositions may be administered weekly until no sign of infection can be detected.
• unit dosage forms comprising a container which holds therein an amount of a composition according to the present invention effective for topically treating a bacterial, mycotic, or other microbial infection.
• Unit dosage forms of the present invention further comprise an applicator for appropriate administration of invention compositions, as well as instructions for appropriate use of invention unit dosage forms.
• invention compositions provide several advantages over currently available treatment protocols for infections of the nail.
• the low viscosity of invention compositions allows for penetration through and under the nail, thereby killing fungus, including fungal spores, on contact.
• invention compositions have the ability to displace moisture present underneath the nail. Since moisture is a critical component of fungal growth, invention methods and compositions provide not only a cure for presently existing nail fungus, but also create an environment hostile to fungal growth, thereby preventing future infection. Indeed, this preventative component of the present invention provides the additional benefit of requiring only occasional administration, rather than the daily administration required by currently available nail lacquers.
• invention methods greatly minimize patient discomfort, i.e., no surgical removal of the nail or drilling of the nail is required.
• the components of invention compositions are readily available and inexpensive, rendering the use of invention methods and compositions economically attractive.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Emergency Medicine (AREA)
• Birds (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Oncology (AREA)
• Communicable Diseases (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Dermatology (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
• Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25362282

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (24)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (23)

• 2001
  • 2001-06-04 US US09/873,773 patent/US6664292B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-05-03 CA CA2449312A patent/CA2449312C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-05-03 ES ES02726836T patent/ES2343352T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-05-03 AT AT02726836T patent/ATE459349T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-05-03 JP JP2003501442A patent/JP2004532882A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-05-03 WO PCT/US2002/014007 patent/WO2002098402A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2002-05-03 EP EP02726836A patent/EP1401421B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-05-03 DE DE60235545T patent/DE60235545D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events