United States Patent:  6,017,531

Assignee:  W. R. Grace & Co. (New York, NY); Conn. / Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. (Kulpsville, PA)

Filed:  June 2, 1997

Hydrophillic compositions and methods of use are provided for debriding and wound healing applications. The compositions contain certain proteases produced by microorganisms of the genus Vibrio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides hydrophilic pharmaceutical compositions capable of maintaining stable enzyme activity at room temperature. The compositions maintain enzyme activity at greater than 80% for at least 100 days at ambient temperatures. Glyceryl cocoate appears to impart enzyme stabilizing characteristics to the hydrophilic composition.

An especially preferred aspect of the invention is a composition which includes an extracellular neutral protease produced by Vibrio proteolyticus ATCC 53559. A particularly preferred procedure for preparation and method of use of this protease for debridement of necrotic tissue is described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,681, which is hereby incorporated by reference and relied on in its entirety. This embodiment of the invention is useful for treating wounds. Wound treatment includes debridement and wound healing.

Still another aspect of the invention is the usage of these stabilized neutral protease pharmaceutical compositions for debridement of necrotic tissue and as wound healing agents.

Claim 1 of 12 Claims

1. A hydrophilic pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of an enzyme and glyceryl cocoate in an amount effective to maintain enzyme activity at greater than 80 percent for at least 100 days at room temperature, wherein said enzyme is an extra cellular neutral protease produced by cultivation of Vibrio proteolyticus ATCC 53559.

____________________________________________
If you want to learn more about this patent, please go directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site to access the full patent.