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  • A61K31/197—Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid having an amino group the amino and the carboxyl groups being attached to the same acyclic carbon chain, e.g. gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], beta-alanine, epsilon-aminocaproic acid or pantothenic acid
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  • A61K31/343—Heterocyclic compounds having oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. fungichromin having five-membered rings with one oxygen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. isosorbide condensed with a carbocyclic ring, e.g. coumaran, bufuralol, befunolol, clobenfurol, amiodarone
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  • A61K31/403—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 condensed with carbocyclic rings, e.g. carbazole
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  • A61K31/445—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
  • A61K31/4523—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems
  • A61K31/4525—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems containing a five-membered ring with oxygen as a ring hetero atom
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  • A61K31/44—Non condensed pyridines; Hydrogenated derivatives thereof
  • A61K31/445—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
  • A61K31/4523—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems
  • A61K31/454—Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine containing further heterocyclic ring systems containing a five-membered ring with nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pimozide, domperidone
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  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0053—Mouth and digestive tract, i.e. intraoral and peroral administration
  • A61K9/0065—Forms with gastric retention, e.g. floating on gastric juice, adhering to gastric mucosa, expanding to prevent passage through the pylorus
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Definitions

• 5 -hy dr oxytryptoph an is the natural immediate precursor of serotonin (aka, 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT).
• 5-HTP has been reported to have therapeutic potential in a range of disorders related to central nervous system function (Turner et al, 2006a), but exhibits in humans fast absorption (T M3X ⁇ lh) and rapid elimination (Ti /2 ⁇ 2h) (Gijsman et al, 2002; Westenberg et al, 1982).
• 5-HTP as a molecule alone may be ill-suited for dmg therapy, because of fast-onset C Max -related adverse events upon dosing, and because of a need to dose 4-6 times per day to maintain reasonably stable 5-HTP exposure, a dosing requirement that is unrealistic and impractical in a general therapeutic setting (Jacobsen et al, 2016a).
• Carbidopa and benserazide are peripheral inhibitors (PDI) of the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase enzyme (AAAD).
• PDI co-treatment has been used to enhance the bioavailability of the dopamine precursor levodopa for Parkinson's disease therapy (Freitas et al, 2016), and of the 5-HT precursor 5-HTP for experimental therapeutic purposes (Turner et al, 2006b).
• PDI co-treatment may also reduce human gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events— e.g. nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, vomiting— related to conversion of 5- HTP to 5-HT in the GI tract (Byerley et al, 1987).
• GI human gastrointestinal
• benserazide and carbidopa are usually used with levodopa in a levodopa:PDI ratio of 4:1 (Merck, 2017; Roche, 2015).
• benserazide is a more potent PDI inhibitor than carbidopa.
• benserazide is a 10-fold more potent inhibitor of AAAD in the peripheral organs than is carbidopa (Da Prada et al, 1987). Consequently, the starting dose of benserazide is around half that of carbidopa (Merck, 2017; Roche, 2015), and benserazide and carbidopa cannot be dose-substituted on a simple basis.
• PDIs are not specific inhibitors of AAAD; they can also inhibit enzymes of the kynurenine pathway, anomalies of which are associated with CNS, metabolic, and immune disorders (Badawy and Bano, 2016). Further, in animals chronic PDI treatment, i.e., carbidopa, benserazide, without levodopa can cause significant toxic effects, including kidney insufficiency and growth anomalies (Rauws et al, 1982; Yoshimura et al, 1987). Moreover, in humans, congenital amino acid decarboxylase deficiency causes serious autonomic, movement, and other symptoms, indicating that long-term PDI treatment could potentially have broad-spectrum toxic effects (Manegold et al, 2009).
• one aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of enhancing the bioavailability of 5-HTP in a subject (e.g. human subject) comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of co-administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of 5-HTP and a low-dose of carbidopa to the subject, thereby enhancing 5-HTP bioavailability in the subject.
• a subject e.g. human subject
• a method of enhancing the bioavailability of 5-HTP in a subject comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of co-administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of 5-HTP and a low-dose of carbidopa to the subject, thereby enhancing 5-HTP bioavailability in the subject.
• the low-dose carbidopa produces sub-clinical carbidopa plasma levels, which causes the carbidopa to act only locally in the intestinal tract to enhance 5-HTP bioavailability, which, in turn, minimizes the risk of toxicity and other undesirable physiological effects related to systemic carbidopa exposure.
• a method of enhancing bioavailability of enterally administered 5-HTP in a human subject in need thereof includes: enterally co-administering low-dose carbidopa with said 5-HTP, said low-dose carbidopa provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1 or 0.2 to about 0.5, 0.6 or 0.8 mg/kg/day (or about 5 or 10 mg to about 35, 50 or 60 mg per day) to thereby enhance the bioavailability of the enterally administered 5-HTP.
• the 5-HTP and carbidopa are administered in a daily dosage ratio of from 100:1, 80:1, 60:1, or 50:1, to 40:1, 30:1 or 20:1 of 5-HTP: carbidopa.
• the subject upon enterally co-administering the low-dose carbidopa, the subject has blood plasma levels of carbidopa of less than 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, or 2 ng/ml.
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa are administered once, twice, or three times per day.
• the formulation is administered in a manner selected from the group consisting of oral immediate-release formulation, an oral slow-release formulation, an oral intra-intestinal gel, a rectal suppository, and combinations thereof.
• 5-HTP and carbidopa are provided as a slow-release (SR) formulation of the 5-HTP and the low-dose carbidopa, in the same or separate dosage forms.
• SR slow-release
• the subject is in need of treatment for a psychiatric disorders and/or neurologic disorders, such as mood anomalies or anomalies in impulse or aggression control.
• the subject is in need of treatment for depression, social anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, impulse control disorders, suicidality, borderline personality disorder, fibromyalgia, ataxia, mood, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms and agitation related to neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's), stroke recovery, autism, migraine, sleep disorders, premenstrual dysphoria, post-traumatic stress disorder, post-partum depression, or depression after interferon treatment.
• neurological disorders e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
• stroke recovery e.g. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's
• autism migraine
• sleep disorders premenstrual dysphoria
• post-traumatic stress disorder post-partum depression, or depression after interferon treatment.
• the subject is in need of treatment for depression, anxiety, suicidality, obsessive compulsive disorder, or ADHD. In some embodiments, the subject is in need of treatment for depression, major depressive disorder or treatment-resistant depression (not full remission after treatment with a serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
• the method comprises monotherapy with the 5-HTP and low- dose carbidopa. In some embodiments, the method comprises adjunctive therapy with the 5- HTP and low-dose carbidopa along with a serotonin enhancer.
• the serotonin enhancer is selected from the group consisting of serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, triple-reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin agonists, amphetamines, serotonin precursors, serotonin prodrugs, intermediates in the biosynthesis of serotonin, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
• the serotonin enhancer is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
• SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• the serotonin enhancer is selected from the group consisting of: citalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, indalpine, paroxetine, sertraline, vilazodone, vortioxetine, zimelidine and combinations thereof.
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa are administered orally, optionally in the same or separate dosage forms.
• the low-dose carbidopa provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1 or 0.2 to about 0.5 mg/kg/day (or about 5 or 10 mg to about 35 mg per day).
• the 5-HTP is provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 0.75, to about 1, 4, or 6 grams per day.
• a pharmaceutical formulation or kit of parts suitable for enteric administration comprising 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa, said formulation suitable for once, twice or three times daily administration.
• the low-dose carbidopa in the pharmaceutical formulation or kit of parts is provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1 or 0.2 to about 0.5, 0.6 or 0.8 mg/kg/day (or about 5 or 10 mg to about 35, 50 or 60 mg per day).
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa are provided in the pharmaceutical formulation or kit of parts at a dosage ratio of from 100:1, 80:1, 60:1, or 50:1, to 40:1, 30:1 or 20:1 of 5-HTP: carbidopa.
• the formulation is a solid dosage form suitable for oral or rectal administration.
• the formulation of 5-HTP and/or carbidopa is one tablet, capsule, or other formulation for daily dosing; or two tablets, capsules, or other formulation for twice-daily dosing.
• the formulation comprises a slow-release formulation of 5- HTP and/or carbidopa.
• the slow-release formulation comprises a gastroretentive formulation.
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa are co-administered with a meal (e.g., when provided as a gastroretentive formulation).
• a low-dose carbidopa as taught herein in a method of enhancing the bioavailability of 5-HTP in a subject (e.g. human subject) comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of co-administering to the subject a low-dose of carbidopa with the 5-HTP, thereby enhancing 5-HTP bioavailability in the subject.
• a low-dose carbidopa as taught herein in a method of preparing a medicament for enhancing the bioavailability of 5-HTP in a subject (e.g. human subject).
• FIG. 1 Effects of low-dose carbidopa on the 5-HTP plasma elevation induced by 5-HTP administration. Carbidopa dose-dependently augmented the 5-HTP plasma elevation. The effect was similar in WT and 5-HT ⁇ 3 ⁇ 4, ro mice (mice with selective and partial brain 5-HT deficiency due to a mutation in tryptophan hydroxylase (Beaulieu et al, 2008)), likely reflecting that the two genotypes of mice had similar 5-HTP plasma levels at baseline. * denotes a statistically significant difference from the group only treated with 5-HTP 200 mg/kg/day. One-way ANOVA, Dunnetfs post-hoc test.
• FIG. 2 Effects of low-dose carbidopa on the brain 5-HT tissue elevation induced by 5-HTP administration. Carbidopa dose-dependently augmented the 5-HT tissue elevation induced by 5-HTP. The effect was proportionally more pronounced in 5-HT Hypo mice, which due do their lower endogenous brain 5-HT synthesis had lower brain 5-HT levels at baseline. * denotes a statistically significant difference from the group only treated with 5-HTP 200 mg/kg/day. One-way ANOVA, Dunnetfs post-hoc test.
• FIG. 3 Effects of low-dose carbidopa on the brain 5-HIAA tissue elevation induced by 5-HTP administration. Carbidopa dose-dependently augmented the 5-HIAA tissue elevation induced by 5-HTP.
• FIG. 4A-4D HPLC electrochemical quantification of carbidopa in plasma.
• FIG. 4A 10 ng/ml standard in perchloric acid. Carbidopa peak visible at 24 min.
• FIG. 4B Plasma extract from mouse not treated with carbidopa. No carbidopa peak visible. Baseline undulations at 24 min is detector noise.
• FIG. 4C Plasma extract from a mouse not treated with carbidopa, but the plasma spiked with carbidopa to a concentration of 2 ng/ml prior to extraction. Carbidopa peak visible at 24 min.
• FIG. 4D Plasma extract from mouse treated with 10 mg/kg/day carbidopa. No carbidopa peak visible. Baseline undulations at 24 min is detector noise, as indicated.
• FIG. 5A-5C Qualitative illustration of the mechanism of action of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 A Under baseline conditions (FIG. 5 A), essentially no 5-HTP is present in the systemic circulation. (At baseline brain 5-HT is synthesized locally in the brain from tryptophan.)
• 5-HTP treatment alone (FIG. 5B) will moderately elevate 5-HTP in the systemic circulation, and moderately elevate brain 5-HT.
• Co-treatment with low-dose carbidopa FIG. 5C
• the carbidopa levels will be too dilute to functionally inhibit AAAD. Symbols: ⁇ , carbidopa. ⁇ , 5-HTP.
• treatment refers to the clinical intervention made in response to a disease, disorder or physiological condition manifested by a patient or to which a patient may be susceptible.
• the aim of treatment includes the alleviation or prevention of symptoms, slowing or stopping the progression or worsening of a disease, disorder, or condition and/or the remission of the disease, disorder or condition.
• an effective amount or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to an amount sufficient to effect beneficial or desirable biological and/or clinical results.
• nonhuman animals of the disclosure includes all vertebrates, e.g., mammals and non-mammals, such as nonhuman primates, sheep, dog, cat, horse, cow, chickens, amphibians, reptiles, and the like.
• 5-hydroxytryptophan or “5-HTP” is the precursor of serotonin (aka 5- hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the body, ln the human body, 5-HTP is synthesized from dietary tryptophan by tryptophan hydroxylase (subtype 1 in the periphery, subtype 2 in most neurons) (Jacobsen et al, 2016a). 5-HTP is rapidly converted to 5-HT by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD), a high-capacity ubiquitously expressed enzyme that is unsaturated under baseline conditions (Bowsher, 1986). 5-HTP is thus the natural, immediate, and rate- limiting precursor of 5-HT.
• AAAD aromatic amino acid decarboxylase
• Exogenously administered 5-HTP elevates brain 5-HT synthesis and functional levels (i.e., extracellular 5-HT, 5-HT EX in animal models (Jacobsen et al, 20l6b; Perry and Fuller, 1993) as well as in humans (Agren et al, 1991 ; Sargent et al, 1998).
• 5-HTP biology and pharmacology appear very similar between non-human mammalian species, e.g. rodents, and humans.
• 5-HTP's sole known metabolic fate is conversion to 5- HT, by AAAD (Jacobsen et al, 2016a); at baseline, 5-HTP plasma and tissue levels are very low (Gijsman et al, 2002; Jacobsen et al, 2016b); and exogenous 5-HTP alone only modestly elevates neuroendocrine biomarkers of brain 5-HT function, while exogenous 5-HTP strongly synergizes with concomitant SSRI administration to elevate 5-HT function beyond the effect of the SSRl (Fuller and Snoddy, 1980; Sargent et al, 1998). Therefore, findings on 5-HTP pharmacology in rodents translate well to the human.
• 5-HTP can be readily sourced from the seeds of the plant Griff onia Simplicifolia and is available commercially. 5-HTP can also be obtained via chemical synthesis (see, e.g. CN103554005A). Exogenous administration of 5-HTP has been reported in experimental human trials to have therapeutic potential in a range of disorders, for instance depression as monotherapy (Takahashi et al, 1976), depression as adjunctive therapy (van Praag, 1982), anxiety (Kahn et al, 1987), obesity (Cangiano et al, 1992), ataxia (Trouillas et al, 1988), migraine (Nicolodi and Sicuteri, 1999), fibromyalgia (Caruso et al, 1990), insomnia (Soulairac and Lambinet, 1977), and sleep terrors (Bruni et al, 2004).
• 5-HTP as a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy will enhance 5-HT function in the brain, and 5-HTP could treat additional disorders, as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy, known to be treatable by 5-HT stimulatory drugs, including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder (Connor et al, 1999), social phobia (Lader et al, 2004), anxiety disorders (Coric et al, 2010), Alzheimer's agitation (Viscogliosi et al, 2017), Alzheimer's related dementia (Bartels et al, 2018), obsessive compulsive disorder (Blier and Bergeron, 1996), premenstrual dysphoria (Steiner et al, 1995), post-partum depression (Appleby et al, 1997), bulimia (Jackson et al, 2010), binge-eating disorder (Guerdjikova et al, 2008), stroke recovery (Mead et al, 2013), and/or pseudobulbar affect (Sloan et
• a 5-HTP drug product could treat disorders whose pathology is believed to involve 5-HT deficiency, including but not limited to, impulse control disorders (Carver et al, 2008), borderline personality disorder (Brown et al, 1982), suicidality (Asberg, 1997), and/or autism (Veenstra- VanderWeele et al, 2012).
• 5-HTP is rapidly absorbed from the upper intestine (T !1C ⁇ lh) and then rapidly eliminated (converted to 5-HT) with a half-life of ⁇ 2h (Gijsman et al, 2002; Westenberg et al, 1982).
• the rapid absorption is associated with C Max -related gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events, such as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting (Byerley et al, 1987; Lowe et al, 2006). These undesirable adverse events are caused by unintended conversion of 5-HTP to 5-HT in the GI (Turner et al, 2006b).
• GI -related gastrointestinal
• 5-HTP in its native immediate release form difficult to use as a therapeutic. Indeed, there currently are no Food and Drug Administration approved drug products using 5-HTP as an active moiety.
• 5-HTP's short half-life necessitates multiple, i.e., 4-6, daily doses, to maintain reasonably stable 5-HTP plasma exposure (Jacobsen et al, 20l6a; van Praag, 1982).
• Such a regimen is impractical in a real-life therapeutic setting. Adherence will be low and the therapeutic effectiveness compromised.
• slow-release (SR) delivery can markedly and to an unexpected degree enhance the drug properties of 5-HTP (see U.S. Patent Nos. 9,468,627 and 8,969,400 to Jacobsen et al), which is supported by animal data (Jacobsen et al, 2016b).
• 5-HTP's oral bioavailability appears to be modest (Gijsman et al, 2002).
• Therapeutic studies often employ high daily doses of 5-HTP when native 5-HTP is given alone, e.g. 900 mg/day for obesity (Cangiano et al, 1992).
• High 5-HTP doses pose a disadvantage because of large size of the solid dosage form and/or multiple tablets or capsules per dose.
• slow-release formulation of 5-HTP refers to a formulation with the ability to release 5-HTP at a slow rate, such that the plasma T m is increased and/or T Max is delayed as compared to an immediate release formulation.
• the terms "5-HTP at a slow rate” and “5-HTP at a slow release” are used interchangeably and refer to the ability to cause the 5- HTP to be released in the subject at a slower rate than if administered directly. See U.S. Patent No. 9,468,627 to Jacobsen et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other terms that may be used for such formulations include, but are not limited to, "sustained-release,” “controlled-release,” “extended-release,” and "time-release.”
• immediate-release oral 5-HTP typically has a Tj /2 of about 2 hours, and thus a slow-release 5-HTP would have a Tj /2 greater than 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 hours.
• the T 2 is at least 8 hours.
• the Tj /2 is from 8, 10 or 12 hours to 24, 48 or 72 hours.
• immediate-release oral 5-HTP has a T Max of 1-2 hours.
• the slow-release formulation of 5-HTP is administered and/or formulated such that the T max (time of maximal plasma concentration after administration) of 5-HTP is at least 2 hours, or between 2 hours and 12 hours.
• 5-HTP is provided in a therapeutically effective amount in a formulation suitable for enteric administration.
• therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of 5-HTP that is sufficient to show a benefit in the subject.
• the formulation is provided in a unit dose for once-daily or twice-daily use. See U.S. Patent No. 8,969,400 to Jacobsen et al., which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
• a daily dose of 0.05 to 10 grams of 5-HTP may be provided (e.g., as one tablet, capsule, or other dosage formulation for daily dosing, or two tablets, capsule, or other formulation for twice-daily dosing with half the daily dosage in each).
• the daily dose may be from 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 0.75, to 5, 8, or 10 grams per day.
• the daily dose may be from 1 to 5 grams per day.
• the daily dose may be from 1 to 3 grams per day.
• 5-HTP is provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, or 0.75 grams per day, to about 1, 4, or 6 grams per day, for a human subject.
• 5-HTP is administered so as to achieve plasma 5-HTP levels averaging 10-100 ng/ml. In some embodiments, 5-HTP is administered so as to achieve plasma 5-HTP levels averaging 100-1000 ng/ml. In some embodiments, 5-HTP is administered so as to achieve plasma 5-HTP levels averaging 1000-10000 ng/ml.
• Carbidopa inhibits aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD), the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of 5-HTP to 5-HT, the conversion of levodopa to dopamine, and other similar metabolic reactions (Bowsher R.R., 1986).
• Therapeutic maintenance doses of carbidopa are > 1 mg/kg/day (assuming a patient body weight of 70 kg) (Merck, 2017; Pahwa et al, 2014; van Praag, 1982).
• average plasma levels of carbidopa at maintenance doses are >25 ng/ml (range: 25-150 ng/ml) (Verhagen Metman et al, 2015; Yeh et al, 1989).
• “Low-dose” carbidopa as used herein refers to a dosage below that normally used clinically.
• AAAD being the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of 5-HTP to 5-HT, is present in large excess and is unsaturated under baseline conditions (Bowsher R.R., 1986).
• 5-HTP levels are very low, reflecting that the rate- limiting step in 5-HT synthesis is formation of 5-HTP from tryptophan, catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase (Jacobsen et al, 2012a).
• a PDI e.g. average carbidopa ⁇ 25 ng/ml (Verhagen Metman et al, 2015; Yeh et al, 1989)
• PDI minimal levels of a PDI (e.g. average carbidopa ⁇ 25 ng/ml (Verhagen Metman et al, 2015; Yeh et al, 1989)) will have no substantial impact on AAAD activity in the systemic circulation
• low-dose carbidopa is provided in a daily dosage of from about 0.1 or 0.2 to about 0.5, 0.6 or 0.8 mg/kg/day (or about 5 or 10 mg to about 35, 50 or 60 mg per day) for a human subject.
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa co-administration/dosage form functions in such a way that 5-HTP conversion to 5-HT is inhibited substantially only in the intestine, at the site of 5-HTP absorption, while AAAD activity in the systemic circulation, internal organs, and brain will remain substantially and functionally uninhibited (see FIG. 5A-5C).
• the selective inhibition of AAAD in the intestine with low-dose carbidopa as taught herein protects 5-HTP, wholly or partly, from AAAD catalyzed conversion to 5-HT in the intestine.
• the enhanced 5-HT function in the brain may manifest as increased net 5-HT synaptic and extra-synaptic release and elevated levels of extracellular 5-HT (5-HT EC .
• This causes increased 5-HT neuro transmission through serotonin receptors in the brain, an action which can exert a therapeutic effect.
• Downstream mechanisms of serotonin receptors include, but are not limited to, neural plasticity, electrophysiological changes, modulations in brain connectivity, alterations in brain structural circuitry, alterations in brain functional circuitry, alterations in gross brain structure, alterations in neurite structure and complement, alterations in neurotrophic factors, alterations in neurogenesis, alterations in neuron number and complement, alterations in non-neuron cell number and complement, and alterations in apoptosis.
• the co-administration may further comprise administration of another serotonergic therapeutic.
• slow-release formulation of carbidopa refers to a formulation with the ability to release the low-dose carbidopa at a slow rate, such that the plasma T ⁇ n is delayed and/or T M3 ⁇ 4X is decreased as compared to an immediate release formulation.
• the slow- release formulation of carbidopa can be provided together with 5-HTP in the same dosage form, or in separate dosage forms.
• the terms "carbidopa at a slow rate” and “carbidopa at a slow release” are used interchangeably and refer to the ability to cause the carbidopa to be released in the subject at a slower rate than if administered directly, in an immediate release dosage form. See, e.g., U.S.
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa used in the invention can be the free base; a salt; a conjugate (e.g. an amino acid conjugate, a hydrocarbon conjugate, a lipid conjugate); a conjugate to alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and/or excretion properties; or an isotopic modification to alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and/or excretion properties.
• a conjugate e.g. an amino acid conjugate, a hydrocarbon conjugate, a lipid conjugate
• a conjugate to alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and/or excretion properties e.g. an amino acid conjugate, a hydrocarbon conjugate, a lipid conjugate
• an isotopic modification to alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and/or excretion properties.
• Solid pharmaceutical dosage forms suitable for enteric administration of 5-HTP and/or carbidopa can include tablets, capsules, or particulates that can be prepared using standard pharmaceutical approaches for making drug formulations known to the person skilled in the art. Examples includes, but are not limited to, gastroretentive formulations (Lopes et al, 2016), swellable matrix tablets (Verhagen Metman et al, 2015), erosible matrix tablets (Nokhodchi et al, 2012), osmotic tablets (Thombre et al, 2004), mini-tablets (Mitra et al, 2017), and micro-beads (Freitas et al, 2016).
• the formulation is a slow-release gastroretentive formulation of 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa, either in the same or separate dosage forms for co administration ⁇ see review, Lopes et al, 2016; see also U.S. Patent Nos. 6,340,475; 6,635,280; 6,723340, 9,161,911; and 9,980903).
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa dosage forms can be administered with or without food, depending on the specific embodiment.
• the dosage form(s) are to be taken/administered with food (e.g. with a meal; see U.S. Patent No. 7,438,927).
• the dosage form(s) are to be taken/administered while fasting.
• the solid dosage form suitable for enteric administration can deliver 5-HTP and/or carbidopa either predominantly to the stomach, jejunum, ileum, colon, or rectum, or to combinations thereof.
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa can be released via the solid dosage over a period, ranging from essentially instantaneously at the site(s) of delivery to up 24h, as is appropriate for the indication in question.
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa dosage form can also be a liquid, gel, or semi-solid, or such non-solids incorporating solid elements.
• enteric dosage forms can be administered orally or rectally. Doses can be administered once, twice, or more frequent, as required for therapy. One or more units can be administered at each dose.
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa dosage form can be administered acute, over one day, several days, several weeks, several months, or indeterminate, depending on the therapeutic need of the subject being treated.
• each sub-dose (e.g. first out of a total of two or more daily administrations) encompasses one tablet capsule, or other dosage form. In other embodiments, each sub-dose includes two or more tablets, capsules, or other dosage forms.
• the 5-HTP and/or carbidopa dose can be titrated up to the final dose over several days, weeks, or months, or the final dosage strength can be administered from the start of treatment.
• the 5-HTP and carbidopa co-administration can be used therapeutically as monotherapy, i.e., with no other concomitant serotonin enhancer therapies.
• the 5-HTP and carbidopa co-administration can be used therapeutically as adjunctive therapy, i.e., together with another serotonergic therapy or serotonin enhancer, including, but not limited to, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, serotonin agonists, serotonin antagonists, serotonin receptor allosteric modulators, serotonin precursors, serotonin synthesis co-factors, and/or modulators of biological elements in serotonin metabolic pathway. See U.S. Patent No. 9,468,627 to Jacobsen et al.
• Serotonin enhancer refers to any compound that increases, directly or indirectly, the availability of serotonin in the central nervous system for binding to serotonin receptors at the post-synaptic membrane, or directly stimulates serotonin receptors, and includes, but is not limited to, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin agonists, amphetamines, serotonin precursors, serotonin prodrugs, intermediates in the biosynthesis of serotonin, co-factors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Such compounds may be given alone or in combination with other serotonin enhancers.
• SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• SSRI refers to those compounds typically used as antidepressants and are associated with the increase in the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin by inhibiting its uptake into the presynaptic cell, increasing the level of serotonin in the synaptic cleft available to bind to post-synaptic serotonin receptors.
• suitable SSRIs include, but are not limited to, citalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, indalpine, paroxetine, sertraline, vilazodone, vortioxetine, zimelidine, and combinations thereof.
• the 5-HTP and low-dose carbidopa may be provided together in the same dosage form, or they may be provided separately as a kit of parts comprising separate dosage forms that may be subsequently brought together for use in conjunction with each other in combination therapy as taught herein. They may also be packaged and presented together as separate component(s) of a kit of parts in adjunctive therapy with a serotonin enhancer (e.g., SSRI).
• SSRI serotonin enhancer
• mice Adult mice were used, both wildtype (WT) mice with normal 5-HT levels and '5-HT Hypo ' mice with reduced brain 5-HT synthesis and levels (Beaulieu et al, 2008).
• the 5- HT] i ypo mice are a naturalistic model of brain 5-HT deficiency, which is known to be a pathogenic factor in several CNS disorders, e.g. depression and suicide.
• Carbidopa was used as a PDI. To model oral drug delivery occurring in humans during a therapeutic scenario, 5-HTP and carbidopa was delivered via the mouse food (standard chow). This approach distributed the drug delivery over time, imparting a measure of 'slow-release' (aka sustained-, extended-, time-, controlled-release) delivery. 5-HTP was administered in a dose of 200 mg/kg/day. Carbidopa was administered in doses of 2, 5 or 10 mg/kg/day in addition to 5-HTP, to assess the effect of carbidopa on the outcomes of 5-HTP treatment.
• Sample collection During treatments blood samples were collected to assess plasma levels of 5-HTP and carbidopa. At end of treatments mice were euthanized and brain tissues (frontal cortex) were collected.
• 5-HTP treatment elevated levels of plasma 5-HTP (FIG. 1), brain 5-HT (FIG. 2), and brain 5-HIAA (FIG. 3).
• Carbidopa alone, without concomitant 5-HTP treatment had no effects.
• carbidopa manifold and dose-dependently augmented the effect of 5-HTP treatment on all outcome measures.
• the treatment effects on plasma 5-HTP did not differ between WT and 5-HT Hypo mice. This was expected, as the mutation carried by the 5 HT H ⁇ T>0 mice will not affect 5-HTP absorption and metabolism (Beaulieu et al, 2008).
• the 5 HTP +/- carbidopa treatment effects on brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA were relatively more pronounced in the 5-HT Hypo mice.
• this 5-HTP/low-dose carbidopa treatment regimen may be particularly relevant in diseases associated with brain 5-HT dysfunction, e.g. psychiatric disorders, but also in patients and in disorders where 5-HT levels are normal and where general elevation of 5-HT and enhancement might be therapeutic.
• Plasma carbidopa levels were below the limit of detection, i.e. ⁇ 2 ng/ml, even at 10 mg/kg/day, the highest dose.
• carbidopa doses lower than previously reported can enhance 5-HTP bioavailability and pharmacodynamic (brain 5-HT) effects.
• carbidopa doses essentially only being effective in inhibiting PDI activity locally in the intestine can markedly enhance 5-HTP bioavailability and pharmacodynamic (brain 5-HT) effects.

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