EP0863759A1

EP0863759A1 - Use of a combination of pentoxifylline and type i interferons for treating multiple sclerosis

Info

Publication number: EP0863759A1
Application number: EP96938998A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Rieckmann
Original assignee: Dr Rentschler Arzneimittel GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Dr Rentschler Arzneimittel GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1995-11-30
Filing date: 1996-11-08
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Also published as: JP2000501085A; HUP9903698A2; NO982463L; CA2238770A1; WO1997019686A1; NO982463D0; DE19544768C1

Abstract

The invention concerns the combined therapy of intermittent secondary progressive multiple sclerosis by the subcutaneous or intramuscular administration of type I interferons and the oral application of pentoxifylline, optionally in the controlled-release form.

Description

Use of a combination of pentoxifylline with type I interferons for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

The invention relates to the combination of pentoxifylline and type I interferons for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, including relapsing and secondary progressive MS. In particular, the invention relates to a combined use of β-interferon by subcutaneous injections together with pentoxifylline in the form of orally administrable medicinal products in relapsing multiple sclerosis.

The invention is characterized in the form of the combined use and of combination preparations in the claims.

From German patent specification DE 43 43 034 Cl it is already known to use pentoxifylline for the treatment of the relapsing or also chronically progressive form of multiple sclerosis. The prophylactic therapy with ß-interferon (8 million units subcutaneously every other day) is currently the only recognized therapeutic option for reducing relapses in multiple sclerosis.

According to the above-mentioned German patent specification No. 43 43 034, there is also the possibility of applying a combination of the pentoxifylline together with corticosteroids for acute therapy of multiple sclerosis episodes due to the synergistic effect of this combination of both substances when administered together. The preferred corticosteroids for this type of therapy are acute multiples Sclerosis especially the prednisone, prednisolone, Prednιsolon-21-acetate, prednylidene and the methyl prednisone, especially the methyl prednisolone, into consideration.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases in our latitudes. It usually begins in early adulthood and can be chronically progressive or relapsing. Its exact mechanism of origin is not yet known. However, both genetic dispositions and environmental factors seem to play a role.

The well-known clinical picture of MS includes the dissemminated foci of de-marking in the patient's central nervous system (CNS). This inflammation-related demyhnization occurs in batches in the CNS and leads to the so-called episodes with neurological failures that characterize the symptoms of the disease. In addition, about 1/3 of the patients experience a definable, new disease stage of constant progression. It can be assumed that pathomechanisms other than the progressive demyehnisation also play an additional role at this late stage.

Apart from the newer forms of therapy for MS listed above, the disease could only be treated symptomatically if flare-ups occurred by the administration of corticosteroids (eg lg / day methylprednisolone iv over a period of three days), which leads to a reduction in the duration of the relapse . Due to the well-known, numerous and serious side effects of long-term administration of corticoids, however, preventive continuous therapy with these hormones cannot be carried out without further ado. In this context, however, there are also other serious concerns about treating patients who additionally suffer from other diseases which are influenced by corticosteroids, for example type 1 diabetes mellitus, with these adrenal cortex hormones or their descendants. Such drug therapy is extremely difficult and risky. To avoid these side effects and therapeutic problems, various other groups of drugs have also been tested for their effectiveness against MS.

Studies on long-term therapy of MS with immunosuppressive drugs, e.g. Azathioprine or Cyclospoπn A, have been shown to show no significant effects on the course of the disease. However, the subcutaneous administration of recombinant E. coli β-interferon was able for the first time to bring about a significant reduction in relapse. However, the application of β-interferon has been difficult for the patient to handle, has numerous side effects and is extremely cost-intensive

The object of the invention is therefore to create a therapy for MS or a use of drugs for the treatment of MS, which overcomes the disadvantages set out at the beginning. The object on which the invention is based is achieved in a completely surprising manner by the combination therapy of type I interferons, for example α-interferon and / or β-interferon, by subcutaneous route in connection with orally administered pentoxifylline in the relapsing form of MS.

The combined use of the two active substances interferon type I and pentoxifilline has the administration of IO ⁴ to IO ⁸ , in particular 1 to 16 million units of a β-interferon or α-interferon subcutaneously with simultaneous oral administration of 1 to 5 times a day 100 to 1600 mg or 2000 mg pentoxifylline to the subject, the pentoxifylline may optionally be in the form of a sustained release preparation. The doses of interferon and pentoxifylline to be used in each case are based on the general condition and the weight of the patients to be treated. The dose of interferons is generally between 1.5 × 10 ⁵ to 30 × IO ⁵ IU with subcutaneous administration, preferably with 3 x 10 ⁵ to 20 x 10 ⁵ , more preferably 1.5 x IO ⁵ IU with subcutaneous or intramuscular administration, each per kilogram of body weight. Dosages of 0.3 x 10 ⁵ , 1 x 10 ⁵ , 2 x IO ⁵ , 2.5 can also be used x IO ⁵ , 3.0 x 10 ⁵ up to 3.5 or 4.0 x IO ⁵ IU can be administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly in solution. Expressed in million units, an application of 8 million units is preferred, but it is also possible to administer 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 14, 15 or 16 or 18 or 20 million units per patient.

Interferons of natural or genetic engineering origin can be used therapeutically. The concentration of this active ingredient is IO ⁴ ie to 10 ⁸ iE per ampoule or vial and per application. The dosage form can be an ampoule, the drug being dissolved in liquid form, or a lyophilisate, ie a freeze-dried, water-soluble powder for injection purposes.

Suitable adjuvants for setting a physiological pH of the injection solution or the lyophilisate are buffer systems such as glycine / sodium hydroxide, sodium dihydrogen phosphate / dinate hydrogen phosphate or the corresponding potassium salts, tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane / HCl or sodium / essic acid. The solvent used here is water for injections or distilled water. according to the valid pharmacopoeia regulations. For the production of the lyophilate there are scaffolds such as mannitol, dextran, sucrose. Human albumin, lactose and polyvinyl pyrrolidone required.

The corresponding injection solutions or the lyophilisate are filled aseptically into the corresponding injection glasses or ampoules.

The individual dosage of pentoxifylline is at least 400 mg each per oral administration, but can also be 300, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 or even 1500 to 1600 or 2000 mg. When administering the oral pharmaceutical forms, preference is given to those with a delayed release, that is to say corresponding retard preparations. The daily dose can be between 300 or 400 mg and 4500 mg, a daily dose of 1200 mg per patient is very particularly preferred. But it can daily doses of 500, 600, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500 and 4000 or 4500 mg per patient can also be administered. The range between 500 mg daily and 2500 mg daily is preferred. Based on the body weight, the dosages used for single administration are at least 3 mg up to 300 mg each per kilogram. The range from 3 mg per kilogram to 18 mg per kilogram is particularly preferred, a single dose of 6 mg per kilogram being particularly preferred. The respective total daily doses are understood accordingly for the administration at least once a day, preferably 2 to a maximum of 5 times a day.

Tablets, coated tablets, capsules or granules are suitable as dosage forms for the retarded or non-retarded pentoxifylline. The dosage per dosage form is 200 to 1000 mg or up to 2000 mg pentoxifylline. The auxiliaries below are particularly suitable for the retardation.

Ethyl cellulose, methyl acrylates, acrylic and methacrylic acid ester copolymers with trimethyl ammonium methacrylate, acrylate dispersions, alginates, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cetylstearyl alcohol or hydrogenated castor oil in a mixture with stearic acid. These substances are used in combination with the usual galenic binders, fillers, lubricants and release agents such as lactose, starch types, microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, calcium calcium phosphate, colloidal silicon dioxide, talc, magnesium stearate, polyvinylpyrrolidone or methyl cellulose

Capsule preparations are soft or hard gelatin capsule preparations. The usual carrier, retarding, sliding and thinning substances or encapsulating materials such as gelatin can be used as auxiliary substances for the production of capsules. In the manufacture of high-dose pentoxifyl resin preparations, the oblong forms are preferred because of easier administration According to the invention, a combination medicinal product is also provided which is characterized in that the pack contains ampules with injection solutions or lyphylisate containing an interferon and possibly retarded pentoxifylline in the form of tablets, dragees, capsules or granules, separately from one another, wherein the respective dose units of both active substances are present in the amounts indicated above.

How the synergistic effectiveness of the combined application of an interferon and pentoxifylline is achieved cannot yet be explained on the basis of the studies available to date. It is only known that a large part of the effects induced by 7-interferon (activation of auto-aggressive T cells, induction of adhesion molecules and histocompatibility antigens as well as release of TNF-α (tumor necotosis factor)) by an a - or ß-interferon can be antagonized. Various studies have shown that in the initial phase of the interferon treatment there may initially be a worsening of the symptoms and significant side effects with an increase in fever, flu-like symptoms, weakness and joint pain. Part of these side effects can be explained by the release of endogenous pyrogens, such as interleukin 1 and TNF-α, as well as an increased proportion of IFN-7 producing cells. On the basis of in vitro investigations, it was found that an interferon, in particular IFN-α, very particularly IFN-β, and pentoxifylline unexpectedly have a synergistic effect on the production of TNF-α and 7-interferon in stimulated mononuclear blood cells and T-cell lines that are directed against the basic myelin protein (a relevant autoantigen in MS) unfold. The following case histories are presented to illustrate the effects of the combined use of the two active ingredients: Case l:

A 25-year-old patient was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago. Initially, relapses occurred every six months, which improved quickly after cortisone administration. First a left leg paresis, then gangataxy, as well as intermittent urinary and fecal incontinence and temporary double images were diagnosed. For a year now only partially remitting relapses under cortisone treatment and increasing atactic gait disorder. During a stable phase, start therapy with ß-interferon (8 million units Betaseron ^® ) subcutaneously with simultaneous administration of 3 x 400 mg pentoxifylline retard. With this therapy, only a slight increase in temperature up to 37.8 ° C axillary and a slight feeling of restlessness occurred on the first day three hours after the injection. On the following days there were no further side effects. The blood values, in particular the liver function values and the differential blood count, were still within the normal range four weeks after the therapy. In the second week under combined therapy there was a slight improvement in the gait pattern and the visual acuity in the left eye with no side effects. No new relapses have occurred since 8 months of treatment.

Case 2:

The 26-year-old patent had suffered from relapsing MS for four years. As initial symptoms, emotional disorders in both legs and on the left arm, which occurred several times in succession, were diagnosed. A year ago, spastic paraparesis began with a marked exacerbation of the symptoms after a subcapital upper arm fracture on the left, which was treated with surgery. Eight weeks after the accident was interferon treatment SS in combination with pentoxifylline after again been incurred stability started (Betaseron ^®, 8 million units every other day subcutaneously, Pent¬ oxifyllin 4 x 400 mg retard oral). On the first day of treatment, the patient noticed a general feeling of weakness four hours after the ß-interferon injection. no tiredness, headache and blurred vision. Fever, chills, and joint pain did not occur. No further symptoms appeared after the second injection and no further side effects have persisted for 4 months now. The gait pattern has improved significantly under the combination therapy, the free walking distance has increased from 400 m to almost 1 km. The control of the laboratory values showed no pathological finding of the liver function values or the differential blood count.

In both patients there were no significant side effects with the full β-interferon dose during the combination therapy with pentoxifylline. In comparison to the otherwise described side effects of ß-interferon therapy or the forms of medication described at the outset, it can be assumed that the synergistic effect ascertained by in-vitro studies also occurs on the patient in combination therapy, as desired. This synergistic effect on the immunopathological events in MS was in no way foreseeable.

Claims

claims

1. Combined use of one or more Type I interferons subcutaneously or intramuscularly together with pentoxifylline in orally administrable dosage forms in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, including secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that subcutaneously or intramuscularly an amount of IO ⁴ to IO ⁸ , in particular 2 to 20 million IU of the interferon and simultaneously 2 to 6 times a day each 200 to 2000 mg pentoxifylline orally for application reach.

3. Use according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that in the subcutaneously or intramuscularly applicable solution, the interferon in an amount of 8 million or 16 million IU. and the pentoxifylline in the orally administrable dosage forms is present in an amount of 400 or 800 mg or 1600 mg.

4. Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pentoxifylline is present as an orally administrable sustained-release preparation.

5. Combination medicinal product, characterized in that the pack contains, separately from each other, ampoules containing a solution for injection or lyophilisate containing type I interferon or a mixture thereof, in addition to tablets, dragees, capsules or granules containing pentoxifylline.

6. Combination preparation according to claim 5, characterized in that the pack of injection dose units from the interferon of 2-20 million IU each. in addition to orally administrable dose units of 200-2000 mg each, optionally retarded pentoxifyllins.

7. Combination preparation according to claim 6, characterized in that the pack of injection dose units with interferon of 8 million IU each. and contains orally administrable dose units of 400 or 800 optionally delayed pentoxifyllins.

8. Combined use according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the interferon of type I in the form of IFN-α, in particular in the form of IFN-ß, is present.

9. combination medicinal product according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the interferon of type I in the form of IFN-α, in particular in the form of IFN-ß, is present.

10. Use of an interferon of type I for the production of combination medicinal products according to one of claims 5 to 7 and 9 with a content of optionally retarded, orally administrable pentoxifylline for the treatment of multi-plenic sclerosis.