Anti-cancer tamoxifen-melatonin hybrid ligand

• US 8,785,501 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit
• Original Assignee: Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit
• Inventors: Witt-Enderby, Paula A., Davis, Vicki L., Lapinsky, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Soroush, Layla
• Application Number:
  US13/497,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20130072539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 514/651
• US Class Current: 514/651
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/135 having aromatic rings , e.g. ketamine, nortriptyline methadone A61K31/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4045 Indole-alkylamines; Amides thereof, e.g. serotonin, melatonin
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents

Abstract

A particularly constructed tamoxifen-melatonin hybrid ligand gives new and unexpectedly improved results in the prevention and treatment of cancer, particularly breast cancer. The hybrid ligand comprises either tamoxifen or 4-hydroxytamoxifen and also melatonin, with the tamoxifen or 4-hydroxytamoxifen and melatonin'"'"'s being linked by an unsubstituted C₂-C₆ alkyl linker between the tamoxifen amine and the carbonyl of melatonin.

Claims

1. A pharmaceutically active agent consisting essentially of a hybrid ligand of tamoxifen and melatonin linked by a 2-6 carbon alkyl linker conjoining said tamoxifen and said melatonin via a covalent linkage between an amino moiety of said tamoxifen and a hydroxylamino moiety of said melatonin.

2. The hybrid ligand according to claim 1 wherein said tamoxifen is a 4-hydroxytamoxifen moiety.

3. The hybrid ligand according to claim 1 wherein said alkyl linker is substituted or unsubstituted and contains 5 carbon atoms.

4. A pharmaceutical formulation consisting essentially of a hybrid ligand of tamoxifen and melatonin linked by a 2-6 carbon unsubstituted alkyl linker conjoining said tamoxifen and said melatonin via a covalent linkage of an amino moiety of said tamoxifen and a hydroxylamino moiety of said melatonin, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

5. The pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 4 wherein said tamoxifen is 4-hydroxytamoxifen.