Queen's University at Kingston

Cellegy Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Other

Strakan International Limited

Cellegy Canada

Jeremy P W Heaton

Michael A Adams

James D Banting

Charles H Graham

Lynne-Marie Postovit

Ragab El-Rashidy

Alvaro Morales

Jodan D Ratz

C Bruce Ackman

Lynn-Marie Postovit

Susan E Brien

Donald H Maurice

The present invention relates to methods and formulations for inhibiting, treating and preventing a malignant cell phenotype, cell, tumor and/or disease. Administration of nitric oxide mimetics, such as low doses, is sufficient to increase, restore or maintain nitric oxide-mediated signaling in cells so that malignant cell phenotypes, cells, tumors and/or diseases are inhibited or prevented. These methods and formulations are particularly useful in treating and preventing cancer in animals.

Formulations and methods of using nitric oxide mimetics in cancer treatment

Formulations and methods of using nitric oxide mimetics against a malignant cell phenotype

Methods for treating vascular conditions associated with localized imbalance in vascular tone, which are hypothesized to be largely due to elevated endothelin (ET) are provided. The methods involve administration of nitric oxide (NO), agents which are able to provide NO, such as NO donors, agents which activate guanyl cyclase, such as YC-1, or agents which prolong the actions of endogenous NO or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP; a 2nd messenger molecule), such as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. According to the invention, such agents are administered in minimal doses or microdoses by any route known in the art, so as to provide dosages which are about one half to about one twentieth (&#xbd; to 1/20) of those known to induce vasodilation in 'normal' circulations. The low doses of these agents effectively alleviate vascular conditions associated with a reduction in NO production or an attenuation of NO effect, by restoring balance in vascular tone while exerting almost no systemic effect in normal vasculature.

Microdose therapy

Methods and formulations for inhibiting and preventing a malignant cell phenotype by administering to cells a low dose of a nitric oxide mimetic are provided.

The present invention provides a method of administration of an agent which acts to remodel neuronal or vascular pathways for the long term management of sexual dysfunction in both males and females. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of ameliorating or reversing pathogenic vascular degradative modeling in the ilio-hypogastric-pudendal arterial bed and genitalia comprising administering to a human patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-pressor agent. The anti-pressor agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the therapeutic classes of direct vasodilators such as hydralazine and NO donors, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor antagonists, &agr; -adrenergic receptor antagonists, &bgr;-adrenergic receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The anti-pressor agent may be co-administered with a diuretic compound, and is administered either chronically at low dose, or for short periods of time at doses higher than are typically used for the treatment of hypertension. In certain embodiments of the method of the invention, the anti-pressor agent is co-administered with a diuretic agent and/or prostaglandin-E .

Methods for remodeling neuronal and cardiovascular pathways

The present invention provide a method of treating sexual dysfunction in a female, including the vasculogenic symptoms of delayed vaginal engorgement, diminished vaginal lubrication, pain or discomfort with intercourse (dyspareunia), diminished vaginal sensation, diminished vaginal orgasm, diminished clitoral sensation or diminished clitoral orgasm, or of combating vaginal pain by stimulating peripheral pelvic nerve release of nitric oxide (NO). The method comprises administering to a female in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which acts on a mid-brain pathway to increase blood flow to the ilio-hypogastric-pudendal artery bed and stimulate the release of nitric oxide (NO) from peripheral NANC nerve cells. The preferred compound for the method of this invention is apomorphine or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or pro-drugs. Alternatively, the apomorphine is co-administered with an apomorphine-potentiating amount of an androgen, preferably testosterone either prior to, or concomitantly with, the administration of the apomorphine.

Method and compositions for the treatment or amelioration of female sexual dysfunction

In the field of treatment of erectile dysfunction there is disclosed a novel therapy in which the actions of an agent or agents, produce a combination of effects to induce effective erection (and avoid priapism) while reducing or entirely avoiding pain. The method taught combines a first action of an agent which is to antagonize a drug-induced pain stimulus within nociceptive nerves of penile tissue with a second action of either the same agent or of a second agent, which enhances, synergistically, smooth muscle relaxation. The synergism allows for at least an equivalent effect of smooth muscle relaxation to be obtained at significantly lower doses of a smooth muscle relaxing agent such as PGE1 which in standard therapy is also in 40-45% of cases pain-inducing at doses which achieve effective erection. Thus in an anatomical site where nociceptive tissue is in close proximity to one or more effector systems, the method enhances the effector system while reducing nociception in the nociceptive tissue which nociception would be caused by an agent such as PGE1 which is used to trigger the effector system.

Combination therapy for treatment of erectile dysfunction

Methods for treating vascular conditions associated with localized imbalance in vascular tone, which are hypothesized to be largely due to elevated endothelin (ET) are provided. The methods involve administration of nitric oxide (NO), agents which are able to provide NO, such as NO donors, agents which activate guanyl cyclase, such as YC-1, or agents which prolong the actions of endogenous NO or cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP; a 2nd messenger molecule), such as phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. According to the invention, such agents are administered in minimal doses or microdoses by any route known in the art, so as to provide dosages which are about one half to about one twentieth (&frac12; to {fraction (1/20)}) of those known to induce vasodilation in &ldquo;normal&rdquo; circulations. The low doses of these agents effectively alleviate vascular conditions associated with a reduction in NO production or an attenuation of NO effect, by restoring balance in vascular tone while exerting almost no systemic effect in normal vasculature.

The mechanism of hypertension following acute NO synthase blockage is via endothelin-mediated vasoconstriction. Thus, NO appears to inhibit endothelin activity by blocking its expression and not as a chronic direct acting vasodilator. Administration of an endothelin antagonist to a patient in a 'normal' physiological state may result in specific regional vasodilation. This treatment finds utility in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Method of ameliorating erectile dysfunction

Methods and compositions for improving sleep in individuals with sleep disorders or other conditions which interfere with normal sleep via administration of a NO-mimetic are provided.

Growing community of inventors

Gananoque, Canada

Jeremy P W Heaton