Treatment of circadian rhythm disorders

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to the use of a melatonin agonist in the treatment of free running circadian rhythms in patients, including light perception impaired patients, e.g., blind patients, and to methods of measuring circadian rhythm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 510,321, filed 9 Oct. 2014, which is a continuation of then co-pending International Patent Application No. PCT / US13 / 76311, filed 18 Dec. 2013, which in turn claims the benefit of then co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 903,354, filed 12 Nov. 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated herein as though fully set forth.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of circadian rhythm disorders (CRDs) and, more particularly, to the entrainment of circadian rhythms in persons afflicted with Non-24 Hour Disorder (Non-24).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The master body clock controls the timing of many aspects of physiology, behavior and metabolism that show daily rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, alertness and performance, metabolic rhythms and certain hormones which exhibit circadian var...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020]Tasimelteon has the chemical name: trans-N-[[2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-4-yl)cycloprop-1yl]methyl]propanamide, has the structure of Formula I:

and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,529 and in US 20090105333, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth.

[0021]Tasimelteon is a white to off-white powder with a melting point of about 78° C. (DSC) and is very soluble or freely soluble in 95% ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, polyethylene glycols (PEG-300 and PEG-400), and only slightly soluble in water. The native pH of a saturated solution of tasimelteon in water is 8.5 and its aqueous solubility is practically unaffected by pH. Tasimelteon has 2-4 times greater affinity for MT2R relative to MT1R. Ifs affinity (Ki) for MT1R is 0.3 to 0.4 and for MT2R, 0.1 to 0.2. Tasimelteon is useful in the practice of this invention because it is a melatonin agonist that has been demonstrated, among other activities, to entrain patients s...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 510,321, filed 9 Oct. 2014, which is a continuation of then co-pending International Patent Application No. PCT / US13 / 76311, filed 18 Dec. 2013, which in turn claims the benefit of then co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 903,354, filed 12 Nov. 2013, each of which is hereby incorporated herein as though fully set forth.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to the field of circadian rhythm disorders (CRDs) and, more particularly, to the entrainment of circadian rhythms in persons afflicted with Non-24 Hour Disorder (Non-24).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The master body clock controls the timing of many aspects of physiology, behavior and metabolism that show daily rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, alertness and performance, metabolic rhythms and certain hormones which exhibit circadian var...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0020]Tasimelteon has the chemical name: trans-N-[[2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-4-yl)cycloprop-1yl]methyl]propanamide, has the structure of Formula I:

and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,856,529 and in US 20090105333, both of which are incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth.

[0021]Tasimelteon is a white to off-white powder with a melting point of about 78° C. (DSC) and is very soluble or freely soluble in 95% ethanol, methanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, isopropanol, polyethylene glycols (PEG-300 and PEG-400), and only slightly soluble in water. The native pH of a saturated solution of tasimelteon in water is 8.5 and its aqueous solubility is practically unaffected by pH. Tasimelteon has 2-4 times greater affinity for MT2R relative to MT1R. Ifs affinity (Ki) for MT1R is 0.3 to 0.4 and for MT2R, 0.1 to 0.2. Tasimelteon is useful in the practice of this invention because it is a melatonin agonist that has been demonstrated, among other activities, to entrain patients s...

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