Control of intra-ocular pressure

• US 6,548,053 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Birmingham
• Original Assignee: University of Birmingham
• Inventors: Murray, Philip Ian, Stewart, Paul Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bennett, Rachel M.
• Application Number:
  US09/591,406
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 424/427, 424/78.04, 424/400, 424/422, 424/78.02
• US Class Current: 424/78.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/222 with compounds having aromatic groups, e.g. dipivefrine, ibopamine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/57 substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of two carbon atoms, e.g. pregnane or progesterone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/704 attached to a condensed carbocyclic ring system, e.g. sennosides, thiocolchicosides, escin, daunorubicin digitoxin A61K31/7048
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears

Abstract

A method of reducing intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a patient afflicted with elevated IOP is disclosed. The method comprises the step of administering (preferably topically to an afflicted eye) to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a β-HSD-1 inhibitor.

Claims

1. A method of reducing intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a patient afflicted with elevated IOP, comprising administering to the patient an intra-ocular pressure lowering effective amount of a β

-HSD-1 inhibitor.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said β

-HSD-1 inhibitor is administered topically to an afflicted eye of the patient.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said β

-HSD-1 inhibitor is provided by liquorice or a derivative thereof.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said liquorice derivative is selected from the group consisting of glycyrrhetinic acid and carbenoxolone.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said β

-HSD-1 inhibitor is carbenoxolone.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said β

-HSD-1 inhibitor is progesterone or a derivative thereof.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said progesterone derivative is selected from the group consisting of 11α

-hydroxy progesterone and 11β

-hydroxy progesterone.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said 11-β

-HSD1 inhibitor is also an 11-β

-HSD2 inhibitor.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elevated IOP is as a result of exogenous corticosteroid administration.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elevated IOP is as a result of glaucoma or Cushing'"'"'s syndrome.