Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection With Metalloporphyrins
First Claim
1. A method of treating a mammal suffering from hepatitis C viral infection comprising reducing NS5A protein levels in cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to the treatment of hepatitis C infection with a metalloporphyrin. In particular, the present invention is based on the discovery that the NS5A protein plays a key role in HCV RNA replication by participating in polyprotein cleavage, interferon response and cellular signaling pathways. It has been found that metalloporphyrins, such as zinc porphyrins, induce post-translational down-regulation of HCV NS5A protein in an ubquitin-proteasome degradation pathway. That is, metalloporphyrins can be used to activate the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway of NS5A protein catabolism. As a result, metalloporphyrins can be used to significantly suppress HCV viral replication in HCV infected cells.
26 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A method of treating a mammal suffering from hepatitis C viral infection comprising reducing NS5A protein levels in cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
- 7. A method for the treatment of hepatitis C viral infection in a host in need thereof comprising administration to said host a therapeutically effective amount of a metalloporphyrin.
- 16. A method for the treatment of HCV infection in a patient in need thereof comprising administration to said host a therapeutically effective amount of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of zinc mesoporphyrins, zinc protoporphyrins, heme, zinc deuteroporphyrin, zinc deuteroporphyrin bisglycol, cobalt protoporphyrin, cobalt mesoporphyrin, cobalt deuteroporphyrin, cobalt deuteroporphyrin bisglycol, heme, iron mesoporphyrin, iron deuteroporphyrin, and iron deuteroporphyrin bisglycol.
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20. A pharmaceutical formulation for the treatment of HCV infection comprising a about 10 to 80 milligrams of zinc protoporphyrin that is bound to human serum albumin in a molar ratio from about 10:
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Specification