Penciclovir for the treatment of post therapeutic neuralgia

• US 5,866,581 A
• Filed: 06/20/1996
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Novartis Ag)
• Original Assignee: Smithkline Beecham PLC (GlaxoSmithKline PLC)
• Inventors: Griffin, David Ronald John, Boon, Ronald James
• Primary Examiner(s): Spivack, Phyllis G.
• Application Number:
  US08/624,466
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 514/262
• US Class Current: 514/263.38
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/52 Purines, e.g. adenine
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/02 for peripheral neuropathies
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/04 Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/22 for herpes viruses

Abstract

A method for the treatment of PHN in mammals, including humans, which method comprises administering an effective amount of a compound of formula (A), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. ##STR1##

Claims

1. A method for the treatment of PHN in mammals, which method comprises administrating to the mammal in need of such treatment, an effective amount of famciclovir or penciclovir, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the treatment is within 72 hours of rash onset.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the treatment is within 48 hours of rash onset.

4. A method according to claim 1 where the treatment period is 7 days.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 50 years of age.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 60 years of age.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 70 years of age.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the compound is famciclovir.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg, once, twice or three times a day.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg three times a day.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg three times a day.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg twice a day.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 750 mg once a day.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mammal is a human.

15. A method for the prophylactic treatment of PHN in a human in need of such treatment, which method comprises administrating to said human, an effective prophylactic amount of famciclovir or penciclovir, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the compound is famciclovir.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg, once, twice or three times a day.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg three times a day.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 50 years of age.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 60 years of age.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 70 years of age.