Lower dosage strength imiquimod formulations and short dosing regimens for treating genital and perianal warts

Abstract

Pharmaceutical formulations and methods for the topical or transdermal delivery of 1isobutyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]-quinolin-4-amine or 1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5 c]quinolin-4-amine, i.e., imiquimod, to treat genital / perianal warts with shorter durations of therapy than currently prescribed for the commercially available Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream, as now approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”), are disclosed and described. More specifically, lower dosage strength imiquimod formulations to deliver an efficacious dose of imiquimod for treating genital / perianal warts with an acceptable safety profile and dosing regimens that are shorter and more convenient for patient use than the dosing regimen currently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) for Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream to treat genital / perianal warts are also disclosed and described.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is entitled to and claims priority benefit to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 12 / 771,076 filed Apr. 30, 2010; and priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 341,721 filed Apr. 1, 2010; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 341,476 filed Mar. 30, 2010; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 225,202, filed Jul. 13, 2009; entitled “LOWER DOSAGE STRENGTH IMIQUIMOD FORMULATIONS AND SHORT DOSING REGIMENS FOR TREATING GENITAL AND PERIANAL WARTS”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations and methods for the topical or transdermal delivery of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c-quinolin-4-amine, also known as (a.k.a.) 1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-4-amine, a.k.a. imiquimod, to treat genital and perianal warts with shorter durations of therapy, than...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The present invention addresses the above-mentioned limitations associated with the treatment of EGWs with FDA-approved Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream through the discovery of novel and improved imiquimod treatment regimens of short duration, lower dosage strength imiquimod pharmaceutical formulations, and simplified dosing regimens to treat EGWs.

Problems solved by technology

However, the clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.

Each of these therapies has disadvantages such as inconvenient regimens, pain or burning associated with the therapy, scarring, itching, or high recurrence rates.

Notwithstanding FDA approval, Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream treatment for EGWs is not without limitation, including an unsimplified and lengthy dosing regimen (administration three times per week until total clearance of EGWs is achieved, or up to 16 weeks).

The eccentric dosing schedule is not easy to remember, which could lead to reduced compliance with resulting reduced efficacy.

If applied too thickly or generously, Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream can cause site or local skin reactions, such as erosions or ulcerations, causing pain or dysfunction (e.g., of the foreskin or urethra).

In addition, efficacy of treatment with Aldara® 5% imiquimod cream may be limited, especially in men, in patients with longstanding or recurrent disease, or for treatment of keratinized areas (e.g., inguinal).

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