Classifications

• • 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
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
  • A61K31/55—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having seven-membered rings, e.g. azelastine, pentylenetetrazole
  • A61K31/551—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having seven-membered rings, e.g. azelastine, pentylenetetrazole having two nitrogen atoms, e.g. dilazep
• • 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
• • 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
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
  • A61K31/40—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil
• • 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
  • A61K31/33—Heterocyclic compounds
  • A61K31/395—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins
  • A61K31/40—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil
  • A61K31/4025—Heterocyclic compounds having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. guanethidine or rifamycins having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil not condensed and containing further heterocyclic rings, e.g. cromakalim
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K45/00—Medicinal preparations containing active ingredients not provided for in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
  • A61K45/06—Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/08—Antiepileptics; Anticonvulsants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P43/00—Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Definitions

• This invention relates to methods and compositions for treating or preventing seizures with an ICE inhibitor.
• Cytokines are optimum therapeutic targets as they can initiate and sustain many diseases.
• Various strategies such as soluble receptors, antibodies, receptor antagonists or inhibitors are used to block cytokines. These specific anti-cytokine-based therapies have been shown to reduce inflammation in many chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases and are approved by FDA for human use
• Interleukin-l ⁇ converting enzyme is an intracellular protease that cleaves the precursors of IL-l ⁇ and IL-18 into active cytokines (Akita efc al . , 1997; Kuida et al . , 1995).
• ICE-deficient mice Although other proteases (including bacterial and host proteases) can process pro-IL-l ⁇ , ICE-deficient (ICE _ ⁇ ) mice have been shown incapable of releasing mature IL- l ⁇ in response to endotoxin [Fantuzzi efc al . , 1997; Li et al . , 1995] .
• the present invention relates to methods for treating or preventing seizures, convulsions, epilepsy, and related conditions by administering an ICE inhibitor.
• the present invention also relates to compounds and compositions for treating or preventing seizures, convulsions, epilepsy or related conditions .
• the present invention also relates to methods for identifying agents useful for treating or preventing such conditions.
• FIG. 1 depicts the effect of compound 1 (25 ⁇ g in 4 ⁇ l icv) on caspase-1 levels (assessed by western blotting) in the hippocampus of kainic acid- treated rats. Rats were killed 90 min after the beginning of EEG seizures induced by intrahippocampal microin ection of 40 ng kainic acid (see also, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B) . [0010] FIG. 2A and FIG.
• FIG. 2B represent the results of a Western blot analysis of ICE/caspase-1 and IL-l ⁇ levels in sham hippocampi and 90 minutes after kainic acid-induced seizures, with or without compound 1 treatment.
• FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are histogram representations of the Western blot data, illustrated as the mean + SEM from 4 rats.
• Compound 1 25 ⁇ g/4 ⁇ L or vehicle were injected intracerebroventricularly 45 and 10 min before intrahipocampal injection of kainic acid (40 ng) .
• Compound 1 blocked the seizure-induced production of the mature form of caspase-1 (see also FIG. 1) and of the mature form of IL-l ⁇ .
• This invention provides methods for treating or preventing seizures by administering an ICE inhibitor in an amount effective for treating or preventing seizures.
• ICE inhibitor is effective at treating seizures in rodents. Specifically, applicants have demonstrated that treatment with an ICE inhibitor increases the time to onset of seizures and decreases the time spent in seizures.
• the ICE inhibitor compound 1 was as effective as high doses of either phenytoin or carbamazepine, which are known anticonvulsant compounds .
• one embodiment of this invention provides therapeutic strategies for inhibiting seizures. These methods may be used to regulate, ameliorate, treat, or prevent seizures. The methods could also be used to ameliorate, treat, or prevent the progession and worsening of a seizure disorder.
• Such methods would involve, for example, administering an ICE inhibitor following traumatic brain injury, infection, or febrile seizure event to prevent or lessen the severity of a permanent seizure disorder.
• Other embodiments of this invention provide therapeutic strategies for regulation, ameliorating, treating, or preventing epilepsy, convulsions, and related disorders.
• Applicants have also shown that compound 1 and compound 2 inhibit seizures when administered by the intraperitoneal route (Table 3).
• the ICE inhibitor compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological inflammatory disease and inflammatory bowel disease, among others [G. Ku et al .
• ICE inhibitors have not been used to treat seizures ro seizure disorders.
• the pharmacokinetics of these compounds underlying their anti-inflammatory activity in animals and humans is well-understood. Furthermore, applicants have observed that these compounds penetrate into the brain, albeit at considerably lower concentrations than in the blood and certain peripheral tissues. This latter characteristic is presumed to be essential to the activity of any anti-convulsant or anti-epileptic agent and it is unclear whether the brain concentrations attained by the compounds are sufficient to inhibit ICE/caspase-1 in the brain and inhibit IL-l ⁇ production and its contribution to seizure development. Applicants have demonstrated nevertheless that compound 1 and compound 2 have anti-convulsant activity when administered peripherally.
• Ibuprofen a known anti-inflammatory agent
• Ibuprofen increased the seizure activity compared to vehicle (see Table 4) .
• Relative to vehicle, ibuprofen increased the time in status epilepticus, thus indicating that ibuprofen increases or induces seizure activity.
• the examples provided herein involve an rodent seizure model that is recognized as a good model of human epilepsy and convulsions disorders.
• known anti-epileptic drugs such as carbamazepine and phenytoin exhibit anti-convulsant activity in this model, as do the ICE inhibitors.
• the applicants have studied the anti-convulsant activity of the compounds following their intracerebroventricular and intraperitoneal administration, prior experience with compound 1 and compound 2 administered by a variety of peripheral routes, including intraperitoneal, oral and intravenous, indicates that the compounds would also have anticonvulsant activity when administered by these alternate routes.
• the ICE inhibitor is administered peripherally (i.e., orally or parenterally, not intracranially) .
• the present invention involves the use of compounds that are inhibitors of ICE.
• Such compounds may be selective for ICE. Or such compounds may be active against ICE and active against another caspase or against a range of other caspases (e.g., 2-14).
• inhibiting ICE and inhibiting IL- l ⁇ production will delay the time to onset of seizures, decrease the amount of time spent in seizures, or decrease the frequency of seizures, including any one or more or all of the above.
• Example 1 and Example 6 demonstrate that anticonvulsant doses of compound 1 have the expected mechanism-related effects on ICE/caspase-1 activation and IL-l ⁇ production.
• a compound would be administered in an amount effective to inhibit ICE and to therefore treat seizures (or other related disorders) .
• Treating seizures (or other related disorders) includes reducing the duration of a seizure, reducing the severity of a seizure, reducing susceptibility of seizure onset, delaying seizure onset, eliminating the occurrence of a seizure. Therefore, also provided by this invention are methods for preventing seizures (or other related disorders) by administering and ICE inhibitor in an amount effective for preventing seizures.
• the methods of this invention may be used to treat animals, preferably mammals, including human and non-human mammals.
• Any compound that inhibits ICE may be used in the methods and compositions of this invention.
• Such compounds include those compounds that inhibit ICE selectively and those that inhibit one or more enzyme in the caspase or ICE/CED-3 family.
• Compounds for use in connection with this invention inhibit the catalytic activity of ICE in either a reversible or irreversible manner.
• the compounds of this invention inhibit ICE and/or decrease IL-1, particularly IL-l ⁇ and IL-18 levels. These compounds can be assayed, for example, for their ability to inhibit ICE, the production of IL- l ⁇ and/or IL-18, the regulation of IL-1 and/or IL-18 levels, and/or affect IL-l ⁇ and/or IL-18 activity. Assays for testing each of these activities are known in the art (see Examples herein, WO 95/35308, WO 97/22619, WO 99/47545, or WO 01/90063) .
• Compounds that may be used in connection with this invention include, but are not limited to, the compounds of the following documents: WO 04/058718, WO 04/002961, WO 03/088917, WO 03/068242, WO 03/042169, WO 98/16505, WO 93/09135, WO 03/106460, WO 03/103677, WO 03/104231, WO 02/085899, WO 00/55114, WO 00/55127, WO 00/61542, WO 01/05772, WO 01/10383, WO 01/16093, WO 01/42216, WO 01/72707, WO 01/90070, WO 01/94351, WO 02/094263, WO 02/42278, US Patent 6,184,210, US Patent 6,184,244, US Patent 6,187,771, US Patent 6,
• EP 0600880, and EP 1378573 (which, as set forth herein, are all incorporated by reference herein) .
• Preferred compounds for use in this invention include those of WO 04/058718, WO 04/002961, WO 95/35308, WO 97/22619, WO 99/47545, and WO 01/90063.
• Other preferred compounds for use in this invention include those of WO 95/35308, WO 97/22619, WO 99/47545, and WO 01/90063. More preferred compounds are those recited in the claims herein. These compounds may be obtained by methods known to skilled practitioners and the methods disclosed in documents cited herein.
• This invention also provides ass,ays for testing compounds for anti-seizure, anti-epileptic, or anti-convulsant activity according to the methods herein.
• Such methods involve, for example, identifying a compound useful in the treatment of seizures, convulsions, epilepsy, or related disorders comprising determining the ability of the compound to inhibit ICE and/or to inhibit seizures, convulsions, epilepsy, or related disorders.
• Other methods of this invention involve assaying ICE inhibitors for anticonvulsant activity.
• Such methods and assays are useful for identifying a compound for use in the treatment of seizures, convulsions, epilepsy, or related disorders.
• the assays may be done by methods substantially as described herein (see, e.g., Examples 1, 2, or 3).
• compositions and methods of this invention will be useful for controlling IL-1 levels and/or activity in vi tro or in vivo .
• the compositions and methods of this invention will thus be useful for controlling IL-1 levels in vivo and for treating or reducing the advancement, severity or effects of certain conditions, including diseases, disorders, or effects as set forth herein.
• the invention provides a composition comprising a compound of this invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative (e.g., salt) thereof, as described above, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative e.g., salt
• compositions and methods of this invention may further comprise another therapeutic agent .
• agents include, but are not limited to, a compound for treating or inhibiting seizures, convulsions, or epilepsy, such as a barbiturate (e.g., mephobarbital, pentobarbital) , a benzodiazepine (e.g., lorazepam clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam) , a GABA analogue (e.g., tiagabin, gabapentin, pregabalin, vigabatrin) , a hydantoins (e.g., phenytoin, fosphenytoin) a phenyltriazine (e.g., lamotrigine) , a succinimide (e.g, methsuximide, ethosuximide) or other, miscellaneous compounds (e.g., carba
• a barbiturate
• pharmaceutically acceptable carrier refers to a non-toxic carrier that may be administered to a patient, together with a compound of this invention, and which does not destroy the pharmacological activity thereof.
• compositions include, but are not limited to, ion exchangers, alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin, serum proteins such as human serum albumin, buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial glyceride mixtures of saturated vegetable fatty acids, water, salts or electrolytes such as prota ine sulfate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, zinc salts, colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cellulose-based substances, polyethylene glycol, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polyacrylates, waxes, polyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block polymers , polyethylene glycol and wool fat .
• ion exchangers alumina, aluminum stearate, lecithin
• serum proteins such as human serum albumin
• buffer substances such as phosphates, glycine, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, partial
• compositions comprising only a compound of this invention as the active component
• methods for administering these compositions may additionally comprise the step of administering to the subject an additional agent.
• agents include, but are not limited to, a compound for treating or inhibiting seizures, convulsions, or epilepsy, such as barbiturate (e.g., mephobarbital, pentobarbital), a benzodiazepines (e.g., lorazepam clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam), a GABA analogue (e.g., tiagabin, gabapentin, pregabalin, vigabatrin) , a hydantoins (e.g, phenytoin, fosphenytoin) a phenyltriazine (e.g., lamotrigine), a succinimide (e.g, methsuximide, ethosuximide) or other, miscellane
• the second agent When a second agent is used, the second agent may be administered either as a separate dosage form or as part of a single dosage form with the compounds or compositions of this invention.
• the amount of compound present in the above- described compositions should be sufficient to cause a detectable decrease in the severity of the disease, or in ICE inhibition, IL-1 levels, or IL-1 activity.
• pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of this invention are utilized in these compositions, those salts are preferably derived from inorganic or organic acids and bases.
• acid salts include the following: acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzene sulfonate, bisulfate, butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphor sulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, he isulfate, heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride, hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate, pamoate, pectinate, persulfate, 3- phenyl-propionate, picrate, pivalate, propionate, succinate, tartrate,
• Base salts include ammonium salts, alkali metal salts, such as sodium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts, such as calcium and magnesium salts, salts with organic bases, such as dicyclohexylamine salts, N-methyl-D-glucamine, and salts with amino acids such as arginine, lysine, and so forth.
• the basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quaternized with such agents as lower alkyl halides, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates, such as dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; aralkyl halides, such as benzyl and phenethyl bromides and others. Water or oil-soluble or dispersible products are thereby obtained.
• lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides
• dialkyl sulfates such as dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates
• long chain halides such
• compositions and methods of this invention may also be modified by appending appropriate functionalities to enhance selective biological properties.
• modifications are known in the art and include those which increase biological penetration into a given biological system (e.g., blood, lymphatic system, or central nervous system) , increase oral availability, increase solubility to allow administration by injection, alter metabolism and/or alter rate of excretion.
• a given biological system e.g., blood, lymphatic system, or central nervous system
• the compositions of this invention are formulated for pharmaceutical administration to a subject, e.g., a mammal, preferably a human being.
• compositions of the present invention may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir.
• parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional and intracranial injection and infusion techniques.
• the compositions are administered orally.
• Sterile injectable forms of the compositions of this invention may be aqueous or oleaginous suspension. These suspensions may be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents.
• the sterile injectable preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension in a non- toxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent, for example as a solution in 1, 3-butanediol .
• a non- toxic parenterally acceptable diluent or solvent for example as a solution in 1, 3-butanediol .
• acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution.
• sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or suspending medium.
• any bland fixed oil may be employed including synthetic mono-or di-glycerides .
• Fatty acids such as oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives are useful in the preparation of injectables, as are natural pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil and castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated versions.
• These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or dispersant, such as carboxymethyl cellulose or similar dispersing agents that are commonly used in the formulation of pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms including emulsions and suspensions.
• Other commonly used surfactants such as Tweens, Spans and other emulsifying agents or bioavailability enhancers which are commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutically acceptable solid, liquid, or other dosage forms may also be used for the purposes of formulation.
• the preparation can be tableted, placed in a hard gelatin capsule in powder or pellet form, or in the form of a troche or lozenge.
• the amount of solid carrier will vary, e.g., from about 25 mg to 400 mg.
• the preparation can be, e.g., in the form of a syrup, emulsion, soft gelatin capsule, sterile injectable liquid such as an ampule or nonaqueous liquid suspension.
• any routine encapsulation is suitable, for example, using the aforementioned carriers in a hard gelatin capsule shell.
• a syrup formulation can consist of a suspension or solution of the compound in a liquid carrier for example, ethanol, glycerin, or water with a flavoring or coloring agent.
• An aerosol preparation can consist of a solution or suspension of the compound in a liquid carrier such as water, ethanol or glycerin; whereas in a powder dry aerosol, the preparation can include e.g., a wetting agent.
• Formulations of the present invention comprise an active ingredient together with one or more acceptable carrier (s) thereof and optionally any other therapeutic ingredient (s) .
• the carrier (s) should be "acceptable" in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.
• compositions of this invention may be orally administered in any orally acceptable dosage form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, and aqueous suspensions or solutions.
• carriers that are commonly used include lactose and corn starch.
• Lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added.
• useful diluents include lactose and dried cornstarch.
• aqueous suspensions are required for oral use, the active ingredient is combined with emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening, flavoring or coloring agents may also be added.
• the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered in the form of suppositories for rectal administration. These can be prepared by mixing the agent with a suitable non-irritating excipient that is solid at room temperature but liquid at rectal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such materials include cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.
• a suitable non-irritating excipient that is solid at room temperature but liquid at rectal temperature and therefore will melt in the rectum to release the drug.
• Such materials include cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.
• the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered topically, especially when the target of treatment includes areas or organs readily accessible by topical application, (including e.g., during intracranial surgery). Suitable topical formulations are readily prepared for each of these applications.
• Topical application for the lower intestinal tract can be effected in a rectal suppository formulation (see above) or in a suitable enema formulation. Topically-transdermal patches may also be used.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in a suitable ointment containing the active component suspended or dissolved in one or more carriers .
• Carriers for topical administration of the compounds of this invention include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water.
• the pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated in a suitable lotion or cream containing the active components suspended or dissolved in one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
• Suitable carriers include, but are not limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2- octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated as micronized suspensions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, or, preferably, as solutions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as benzylalkonium chloride.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated in an ointment such as petrolatum.
• compositions are as formulated herein.
• Other ophthalmic preparations may be found in, e.g., US Patent 6,645,994 and/or US Patent 6,630,473.
• the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may also be administered by nasal aerosol or inhalation.
• Such compositions are prepared according to techniques well known in the art of pharmaceutical formulation and may be prepared as solutions in saline, employing benzyl alcohol or other suitable preservatives, absorption promoters to enhance bioavailability, fluorocarbons, and/or other conventional solubilizing or dispersing agents known in the art .
• the form and character of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent is dictated by the amount of active ingredient with which it is to be combined, the route of administration, and other well-known variables .
• the above-described compounds and compositions are also useful in therapeutic applications relating to certain diseases associated with seizures or convulsions.
• the compounds of this invention can inhibit the release of IL-l ⁇ and/or IL-18 and thus can be useful for inhibiting or blocking several pathophysiological effects of certain diseases as set forth herein.
• This invention also relates to a therapeutic method for treating certain diseases by (1) inhibiting IL-1 release from cells and/or (2) preventing the untoward, toxic or lethal effects of excessively high tissue levels of IL-1 in a mammal, including a human.
• This method comprises administering to a mammal an effective ICE inhibiting quantity of one or more ICE/CED-3 inhibitors.
• This method also can be used for the prophylactic treatment or prevention of certain diseases amenable thereto, including seizures, convulsions, epilepsy, or related disorders.
• the invention provides a method for the treating these disorders by administering to a mammal, including a human, in need thereof an effective amount of such compounds .
• ICE inhibition may be measured by methods known in the art and as described more fully herein.
• the compounds may be useful in inhibiting the release of IL-1 release by monocytes, macrophages, neuronal cells, endothelial cells, epidermal cells, mesenchymal cells (for example: fibroblasts, skeletal myocytes, smooth muscle myocytes, cardiac myocytes) and many other types of cells .
• condition or “state” refers to any disease, disorder, or effect that produces deleterious biological consequences in a subject.
• seizure refers generically to sudden and involuntary contractions of muscles over the whole or part of the body, which contractions are caused by an abnormal excitation of subsets of neurons in the central nervous system. Seizures are the symptoms of epilepsy. The motor manifestation of seizures are accompanied by alterations of the electroencephalogram (EEG) . These alterations may occur also in the absence of obvious motor manifestations.
• EEG electroencephalogram
• the level of IL-1 protein in the blood or cell of a patient or a cell culture can be determined by for example, assaying for immunospecific binding to IL 1 or to other proteins known to be produced as a result of the presence of active IL-1. Such methods are known in the art.
• immunoassays which can be used include, but are not limited to competitive and non-competitive assay systems, western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), "sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays, complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescent immunoassays, protein A immunoassays and FACS analysis with labeled antibodies.
• competitive and non-competitive assay systems include, but are not limited to competitive and non-competitive assay systems, western blots, radioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), "sandwich” immunoassays, immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusion precipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays
• the affinity of the antibody of interest for a particular antigen and the binding off-rates can be determined from the data by Scatchard plot analysis. Competition with a second antibody can also be determined using radioimmunoassays.
• the antigen is incubated with antibody of interest conjugated to a labeled compound (e.g., 3 H or 125 ⁇ ) in the presence of increasing amounts of an unlabeled second antibody.
• a labeled compound e.g., 3 H or 125 ⁇
• IL-1 levels can also be assayed by activity, for example, IL-1 levels can be assayed by a cell line that is capable of detecting bioactive levels of cytokines like IL-1 or a growth factor.
• the levels of bioactive IL-1 in a biological sample is detected by incubating a cell line genetically engineered with isopropyl-b-D- thiogalactopyranoside.
• the cell line is incubated with the sample to be tested and cell death in the cell line is monitored by determining the intensity of blue color, which is indicative of a bioactive cytokine or growth factor in the sample tested. See also, e.g., Burns (1994) 20(l):40-44 for IL-1 activity assay of serum of patients .
• Dosage levels of between about 0.01 and about 100 mg/kg body weight per day, preferably between about 0.5 and about 75 mg/kg body weight per day and most preferably between about 1 and about 50 mg/kg body weight per day of the active ingredient compound are useful in a monotherapy. Dosages of about 50 mg/kg to about 200 mg/kg have been tested and found to be effective (see Examples herein) .
• dosage levels of between Ing and lg and preferably between lOOng and lOOmg of the active ingredient compound are useful .
• the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention will be administered from about 1 to 5 times per day or alternatively, as a continuous infusion. Such administration can be used as a chronic or acute therapy.
• compositions of this invention comprise a combination of a compound of this invention and one or more additional therapeutic agents, both the compound and the additional agent should be present at dosage levels of between about 10% to about 80% of the dosage normally administered in a monotherapy regime.
• a maintenance dose of a compound, composition or combination of this invention may be administered, if necessary.
• the dosage or frequency of administration, or both may be reduced, as a function of the symptoms, to a level at which the improved condition is retained.
• the symptoms may be alleviated to the desired level, it may be possible to cease treatment. Patients may, however, require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrence or disease symptoms.
• a specific dosage and treatment regimen for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, and the judgment of the treating physician and the severity of the particular disease being treated.
• a method for treating or preventing a disease of this invention in a subject comprises the step of administering to the subject any compound, pharmaceutical composition, or combination described herein.
• the invention provides a method of treating a mammal, having one of the aforementioned diseases, comprising the step of administering to said mammal a pharmaceutically acceptable composition described above.
• the patient is also administered another therapeutic agent, it may be delivered together with the compound of this invention in a single dosage form, or, as a separate dosage form.
• the other therapeutic agent may be administered prior to, at the same time as, or following administration of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a compound of this invention.
• the methods for identifying a compound or composition for treating a disease include methods for screening of a plurality of compounds or compositions for their ability to ameliorate the effects of certain disease (s) and/or improve the condition of a patient having certain disease (s) of this invention.
• high throughput screening can be achieved by having cells in culture in a plurality of wells in a microtiter plate, adding a different compound or composition to each well and comparing the ICE inhibition and/or IL-1 levels and/or activity in each cell culture -to the levels or activity present in a cell culture in a control well.
• Controls that are useful for the comparison step according to this invention include cells or subjects that have not been treated with a compound or composition and cells or subjects have been treated with a compound or composition that is known to have no effect on ICE inhibition or activity.
• the high throughput screening is automated so that the steps including the addition of the cells to the plate up to the data collection and analysis after addition of the compound or composition are done by machine.
• Instruments that are useful in the comparison step of this invention e.g., instruments that can detect labeled objects (e.g., radiolabelled, fluorescent or colored objects) or objects that are themselves detectable, are commercially available and/or known in the art. Accordingly, compounds and compositions according to this invention that are useful for treating the certain disease disclosed herein can be quickly and efficiently screened.
• Example 1 An experimental model of seizures in male adult Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by unilateral microinjection of kainic acid (40 ng in 0.5 ⁇ l) in the dorsal hippocampus of freely-moving rats using chronically-implanted cannulae and electrodes. Briefly, animals were deeply anesthetized using
• Bipolar nichrome wire insulated electrodes 60 ⁇ m were implanted bilaterally into the dentate gyrus of the dorsal hippocampus (septal pole) , and a guide cannula (22 gauge) was unilaterally positioned on top of the dura and glued to one of the depth electrodes for the intrahippocampal injection of kainic acid.
• the coordinates from bregma for implantation of the hippocampal electrodes were (in mm: nose bar -2.5, AP -3.5, L ⁇ 2.4 and 3 below dura mater) .
• An additional guide cannula was unilaterally positoned on top of the dura mater for intracerebroventricular injection of compounds (in mm, nose bar -2.5; AP -1; L +1.5) .
• a ground lead was positioned over the nasal sinus and two screw electrodes were placed bilaterally over the parietal cortex. The electrodes were connected to a multipin socket (March Electronics, NY) and, together with the injection cannula, were secured to the skull by acrylic dental cement.
• Compound 1 (25 ⁇ g/4 ⁇ l) or equal volume of vehicle was administered by intracerebroventricular injection. Seizures were recorded and quantified by
• EEG analysis based on the following parameters: 1) the time to onset of the first ictal episode, 2) the number of ictal episodes during the 3 hours of recording, and 3) the time spent in ictal activity reckoned by adding together the duration of each ictal event.
• Compound 1 treatment significantly increased the latency to onset of convulsions and reduced the number of ictal episodes and the total time spent in ictal activity (Table 1) .
• the effects of compound 1 on activation of ICE/caspase-1 was evaluated based on the amount of active 20kD subunit detected by Western blot of samples from these rats.
• Example 2 An experimental model of seizures in rats was 5 induced by unilateral microin ection of kainic acid (40 ng in 0,5 ⁇ L) in the dorsal hippocampus of freely- moving rats using chronically-implanted cannulae. Compound 1 (30 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered by intraperitoneal injection 45 and 10 min before kainic 10 acid. EEG seizures were recorded using chronically- implanted hippocampal electrodes.
• Ictal and interictal epileptic activity was quantified by EEG analysis based on the following parameters: 1) the time to onset of the first ictal episode, 2) the number of ictal 15 episodes during the 3 hours of recording, and 3) the time spent in ictal activity reckoned by adding together the duration of each ictal event.
• Compound 1 treatment significantly increased the latency to onset of convulsions and reduced the total time spent in 20 ictal activity by -30% although this difference did not reach statistical significance (Table 2) .
• Table 2 These data suggest that a higher dose would be effective in producing a greater and statistically significant effect. See, Example 4, where a higher dose of compound 2 produced statistically significant effects,
• Rats received compound 1 (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, 45 and 10 min before application of 40 ng in 0,5 ⁇ l kainic acid in the left hippocampus.
• Control animals received 20% Cremophor in saline.
• Example 3 ICE Inhibition
• Compounds may be tested for their ability to inhibit ICE by methods known in the art (see, e.g., the 15 documents cited in FIGS. 2-4) .
• Example 4 [0077] EEG seizures were induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by intrahippocampal injection of 40 ng kainic acid (KA) using a chronically-implanted 20 cannula. EEG seizures were recorded using chronically- implanted hippocampal electrodes .
• KA kainic acid
• Ictal and interictal epileptic activity was quantified quantified by EEG analysis based on the following parameters: 1) the time to onset of the first ictal episode, 2) the number 25 of ictal episodes during the 3 hours of recording, and 3) the time spent in ictal activity reckoned by adding together the duration of each ictal event.
• Compound 2 or its vehicle were injected intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days (50-200 mg/kg) . The 4 th day, rats received compound 2, 45 and 10 min before the intrahippocampal injection of 40 ng in 0.5 ⁇ l kainic acid. Table 3. Effect of compound 2 on Kainate-induced Seizures in Rats
• Example 5 The effect of ibuprofen on seizures was also examined using the methods described in Example 4. Rats received ibuprofen (50 mg/kg, i.p.) 60 min. before unilateral intrahippocampal injection of 40 ⁇ g in 0.5 ⁇ l kainic acid. Controls (vehicle) received saline *p ⁇ 0.05 vs. vehicle by Student's t-test. Seizures were analyzed and quantified by EEG. Status epilepticus represents continuous seizure activity lasting more than 30 min. consecutively. Table 4. Vehicle
• Example 6 The effects of compound 1 on kainate-induced IL-l ⁇ production was also studied as described in Example 1. IL-l ⁇ production was assessed by Western blot analysis of hippocampal homogenates obtained from rats 90 minutes after intrahippocampal kainate (40 ng) microinjection, as was ICE/caspase-1 activation. Total proteins (170 ⁇ g) from hippocampal homogenates were separated using SDS PAGE, 10% acrylamide and transferred to Hybond nitrocellulose membrane by electroblotting. ICE/Caspase-1 and IL-l ⁇ immunoreactivity was evaluated using selective antibodies and detected with enhanced chemiluminescence.
• Compound 2 may be formulated for oral administration as described below and in Table 6. The drug product was formulated to provide 300 mg of compound 2 per tablet . Table 6: Composition of compound 2, 300 mg tablets

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