Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-04
2004-07-06
Badio, Barbara P. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Cyclopentanohydrophenanthrene ring system doai
Reexamination Certificate
active
06759398
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic compound of the androstane series and to processes for its preparation. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations containing the compound and to therapeutic uses thereof, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Glucocorticoids which have anti-inflammatory properties are known and are widely used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders or diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,121 discloses 6&agr;, 9&agr;-Difluoro-17&agr;-(1-oxopropoxy)-11&bgr;-hydroxy-16&agr;-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17&bgr;-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester (known by the generic name of fluticasone propionate) and derivatives thereof. The use of glucocorticoids generally, and especially in children, has been limited in some quarters by concerns over potential side effects. The side effects that are feared with glucocorticoids include suppression of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, effects on bone growth in children and on bone density in the elderly, ocular complications (cataract formation and glaucoma) and skin atrophy. Certain glucocorticoid compounds also have complex paths of metabolism wherein the production of active metabolites may make the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of such compounds difficult to understand. Whilst the modern steroids are very much safer than those originally introduced, it remains an object of research to produce new molecules which have excellent anti-inflammatory properties, with predictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, with an attractive side effect profile, and with a convenient treatment regime.
We have now identified a novel glucocorticoid compound which substantially meets these objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a compound of formula (I)
and solvates thereof.
The chemical name of the compound of formula (I) is 6&agr;, 9&agr;-Difluoro-17&agr;-[(2-furanylcarbonyl)oxy]-11&bgr;-hydroxy-16&agr;-methyl-3-oxo-androsta-1,4-diene-17&bgr;-carbothioic acid S-fluoromethyl ester.
References hereinafter to the compound according to the invention include both the compound of formula (I) and solvates thereof, particularly pharmaceutically acceptable solvates.
The compound of formula (I) has potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic effects, particularly upon topical administration, demonstrated by, for example, its ability to bind to the glucocorticoid receptor and to illicit a response via that receptor, with long acting effect. Hence, the compound of formula (I) is useful in the treatment of inflammatory and/or allergic disorders, especially in once-per-day therapy.
Compound (I) undergoes highly efficient hepatic metabolism to yield the 17-&bgr;carboxylic acid (X) as the sole major metabolite in rat and human in vitro systems. This metabolite has been synthesised and demonstrated to be >1000 fold less active than the parent compound in in vitro functional glucocorticoid assays.
This efficient hepatic metabolism is reflected by in vivo data in the rat, which have demonstrated plasma clearance at a rate approaching hepatic blood flow and an oral bioavailability of <1%, consistent with extensive first-pass metabolism.
In vitro metabolism studies in human hepatocytes have demonstrated that compound (I) is metabolised in an identical manner to fluticasone propionate but that conversion of (I) to the inactive acid metabolite occurs approximately 5-fold more rapidly than with fluticasone propionate. This very efficient hepatic inactivation would be expected to minimise systemic exposure in man leading to an improved safety profile.
Inhaled steroids are also absorbed through the lung and this route of absorption makes a significant contribution to systemic exposure. Reduced lung absorption could therefore provide an improved safety profile. Studies with compound of formula (I) have shown significantly lower exposure to compound of formula (I) than with fluticasone propionate after dry powder delivery to the lungs of anaesthetised pigs.
An improved safety profile is believed to allow the compound of formula (I) to demonstrate the desired anti-inflammatory effects when administered once-per day. Once-per-day dosing is considered to be significantly more convenient to patients than the twice-per day dosing regime that is normally employed for fluticasone propionate.
Examples of disease states in which the compound of the invention has utility include skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, pruritis and hypersensitivity reactions; inflammatory conditions of the nose, throat or lungs such as asthma (including allergen-induced asthmatic reactions), rhinitis (including hayfever), nasal polyps, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and fibrosis; inflammatory bowel conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease; and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The compound of the invention may also have use in the treatment of conjunctiva and conjunctivitis.
The compound of formula (I) and solvates thereof is expected to be most useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract eg asthma and COPD, particularly asthma.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that reference herein to treatment extends to prophylaxis as well as the treatment of established conditions.
As mentioned above, the compound of formula (I) is useful in human or veterinary medicine, in particular as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic agent.
There is thus provided as a further aspect of the invention the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof for use in human or veterinary medicine, particularly in the treatment of patients with inflammatory and/or allergic conditions, especially for treatment once-per-day.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided the use of the compound of formula (I) or physiologically acceptable solvate thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of patients with inflammatory and/or allergic conditions, especially for treatment once-per-day.
In a further or alternative aspect, there is provided a method for the treatment of a human or animal subject with an inflammatory and/or allergic condition, which method comprises administering to said human or animal subject an effective amount of the compound of formula (I) or physiologically acceptable solvate thereof, especially for administration once-per-day.
The compound according to the invention may be formulated for administration in any convenient way, and the invention therefore also includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of formula (I) or a physiologically acceptable solvate thereof together, if desirable, in admixture with one or more physiologically acceptable diluents or carriers. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for once-per-day administration are of particular interest.
Further, there is provided a process for the preparation of such pharmaceutical compositions which comprises mixing the ingredients.
The compound according to the invention may, for example, be formulated for oral, buccal, sublingual, parenteral, local or rectal administration, especially local administration.
Local administration as used herein, includes administration by insufflation and inhalation. Examples of various types of preparation for local administration include ointments, lotions, creams, gels, foams, preparations for delivery by transdermal patches, powders, sprays, aerosols, capsules or cartridges for use in an inhaler or insufflator or drops (eg eye or nose drops), solutions/suspensions for nebulisation, suppositories, pessaries, retention enemas and chewable or suckable tablets or pellets (eg for the treatment of aphthous ulcers) or liposome or microencapsul
Badio Barbara P.
Riek James P.
SmithKline Beecham Corporation
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