Composition and method of treating hepatitis C

• US 5,849,696 A
• Filed: 11/04/1993
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Wayne State University
• Inventors: Chretien, Paul, Mutchnick, Milton
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodward, Michael P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeman, Mary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/145,660
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 514/12, 514/2, 514/885, 514/894, 424/198.1
• US Class Current: 514/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/2292 Thymosin; Related peptides
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/14 for RNA viruses
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/00 Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders

Abstract

Compositions and methods of use for treating hepatitis C virus-infected mammals are disclosed. The compositions include one or more thymosins alone or in combination with one or more interferons. Methods of treatment include use of thymosins alone, or together, or sequentially with interferon.

Claims

1. A method of treating a mammal infected with hepatitis C virus, comprising administering to said mammal an immune system potentiating dose of at least one thymosin selected from the group consisting of Thymosin Fraction Five, Thymosin α

-1, and fragments of Thymosin α

-1.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is a human and said Thymosin Fraction Five is administered at a dose of about 900 to about 1200 mg/M² body surface area.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein said mammal is a human and said Thymosin α

-1 or the fragment thereof is administered at a dose of about 900 to about 1200 μ

g/m² body surface area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mammal is human, said thymosin is thymosin α

-1, and said dose is about 1500 to about 1700 μ

g of said thymosin α

-1.