Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Phosphorus containing other than solely as part of an...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2003-04-29
Criares, Theodore J. (Department: 1617)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Phosphorus containing other than solely as part of an...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06555529
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a drug for treating abnormalities in bone marrow which cures abnormalities in the bone marrow.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
The bone marrow is an organ responsible for part of haematopoiesis, and since it is in contact with the medullary cavity and cancellus bone it is possible that, as a result of bone marrow abnormalities, there will occur abnormalities in the bone and other surrounding tissues, and serious illness will be exhibited. The bone marrow abnormalities referred to here are defined as those where general abnormality of the biological balance in the bone marrow is indicated, such as viral and bacterial infections in the bone marrow, cellular infiltration of the bone marrow, abnormalities of the bone marrow haematopoiesis, proliferation of malignant neoplasms in the bone marrow and concentration changes in cell growth-differentiation factors.
For example, the inflammation of the bone and bone marrow which is brought about by many pathogenic factors such as pyogenic bacteria, tuberculosis, syphilis, fungi and specified viruses or exogenous matter is termed osteomyelitis and, when there is osteomyelitis, as a result of the impeded blood circulation and infiltration of neutrophils into the bone marrow region, there occur surrounding bone decalcification and tissue breakdown, with resulting pain. While the occurrence of acute osteomyelitis is declining due to the widespread use of antibiotics, as a result of for example the appearance of resistant microorganisms, osteomyelitis which from the outset follows a subacute or chronic course remains a problem [Green, N. E. et al., J. Bone Joint Serg., 63-A, p107-114 (1981)].
In rheumatoid arthritis, it has been reported that there is an increase in the concentration of components which induce a proliferation of synoviocytes in the bone marrow and, moreover, that abnormal myelocytes are found within the bone marrow and changes in cell ratios such as an increase in the T cell ratio are shown [Ochi, T., Igaku no Ayumi, 161, p609-613 (1992)]. Since myelocytes differentiate into neutrophils, it can be expected that the number of neutrophils showing abnormal activity will increase in the bone marrow and contribute to an aggravation of the condition. Moreover, since the progress of a condition where marked changes in the bone marrow are exhibited is rapid and the outlook for the patient is severe [Ochi, T. et al., Arthritis Rheum., 31, p37 (1988)], there is the possibility that early stage improvement in the pathological changes in the bone marrow could be linked to the cure of the disease. In addition, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis there is also the problem that there is a considerable likelihood of multiple agents which show serious side effects being used concomitantly, such as steroids which display a variety of adverse-side effects and gold preparations compounds which exhibit hematopoiesis decrease.
In leukaemia, irrespective of cell type and whether it is acute or chronic, or whether it is myelogenicor lymphocytic leukaemia, the bone marrow is the location of a markedly increased production of leukaemia cells, and normal blood components decline. Again, in multiple myeloma, a principal feature is the proliferation of tumours of plasma cells, which are cells at the end of the B cell lineage, and a multiplicity of these is produced in the bone marrow at sites of active haematopoiesis. In leukaemia, multiple myeloma and the like, an increase in cell growth-differentiation factor activity in the bone marrow and an abnormal proliferation of cells are found, and the abnormalities in the biological balance in the bone marrow are believed to be closely connected with the presentation and continuance of the diseased state. Furthermore, hematopolesis decrease is widely known to be a adverse-side effect of the chemotherapeutic agents used in treatment, and even with therapy by homologous bone marrow transplantation the transplantation results are imperfect and carry the risk of subsequent recurrence.
Thus, inflammatory cell infiltration into the bone marrow, abnormal cell proliferation or an abnormal increase in cell growth-differentiation factor activity in the bone marrow are closely related with many bone marrow abnormalities, and the development of drugs based on a hitherto unavailable novel mechanism of action is desired so as to correct the biological balance in the bone marrow and treat bone marrow abnormalities. Now, the aforementioned disorders in which bone marrow abnormalities are shown have just been given as examples, and there are no restrictions thereto.
Bisphosphonic acid compounds suppress excessive bone resorption in tumour-induced osteolysis, Paget disease and osteoporosis, and some have already been used for medical treatment. These compounds are disclosed in, for example, EP177443, EP337706, AU8551534, EP317505, EP27982 and EP94714.
Furthermore, in EP100718, U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,645, EP84822, WO9203451 and WO935052, bisphosphonic acid compounds with an anti-inflammatory action are disclosed. However, the anti-inflammatory effects described therein form a basis for the treatment of skeletal system disorders such as arthritis, osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
In relation to the anti-inflammatory action of bisphosphonic acid compounds, the effects on for example arthritic model rats have been pathologically analysed [Flora, L. et al., Arthritis and Rheumatism, 22, p340-346 (1979)] but no investigations relating to bone marrow changes have been carried out.
Again, in WO97/49711 and WO97/04785 for example, bisphosphonic acid compounds have been disclosed which exhibit an antitumour action and, moreover, it has also been reported that bisphosphonic acid compounds exhibit antitumour actions by inhibiting cell growth [Claire, M. et al., Br. J. Haematol., 98, p665 (1997)], [Knamori, M. et al., J. Exp. Cancer Res., 16, p39 (1997)]. However, depending on the particular compound, there are also examples which cause an increase in tumour growth [Kostenik, P. J. et al., Cancer Res., p5452 (1993)], so an antitumour action is not a characteristic common to the bisphosphonic acid structure.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,971, there is disclosed a bisphosphonic acid compound used for the treatment of hypoxia and ischemic tissue disease but this compound depends on an oxygen-releasing action from red blood cells and it does not correct abnormalities of red blood cell formation. in the bone marrow.
Thus, it is already known that many bisphosphonic acid compounds have a bone resorption suppression effect, an anti-inflammatory effect and an anti-rheumatic effect, and that some bisphosphonic acid compounds exhibit an antitumour effect and show efficacy in the treatment of hypoxia. However, no findings have hitherto been obtained to indicate that bisphosphonic acid compounds are effective in the treatment of bone marrow abnormalities.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to offer a drug which, by correcting bone marrow abnormalities as exemplified above, is effective in the treatment of bone marrow diseases.
As a result of painstaking research conducted with this objective, the present inventors have discovered that the methanebisphosphonic acid derivatives represented by general formula (I) below, and salts thereof, have the effect of correcting the biological balance in the bone marrow, in particular suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration and suppressing cell growth-differentiation factor increase, and have efficacy in the treatment of bone marrow abnormalities. The present invention has been perfected based on this discovery.
In order to realise the aforesaid objective, the present invention has the following constitution. Specifically, the present invention relates to a bone marrow abnormality treatment agent in which the effective component is a methanebisphosphonic acid derivative represented by general formula (I):
[where, in the formula,
(a) R
1
is hydrogen, and R
2
is Ar—X—, Het—X—, Ar—X—
Funaba Yuriko
Ito Masatoshi
Koike Junzo
Okazaki Seiji
Tanahashi Masahiko
Birch, Stewart,. Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Criares Theodore J.
Toray Industries Inc.
LandOfFree
Remedies for intramedullary diseases does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Remedies for intramedullary diseases, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Remedies for intramedullary diseases will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3086703