Title:  Methods to treat gastrointestinal lesions and to reduce drug-induced gastrointestinal or renal toxicity

United States Patent:  6,323,234

Assignee:  NitroMed, Inc. (Bedford, MA)

Filed:  March 3, 2000

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs which have been substituted with a nitrogen monoxide group; composition comprising (i) a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, which can optionally be substituted with a nitrogen monoxide group and (ii) a compound that directly donates, transfers or releases a nitrogen monoxide group (preferably as a charged species, particularly nitrosonium); and methods of treatment of inflammation, pain, gastrointestinal lesions and/or fever using the compositions are disclosed. The compounds and compositions protect against the gastrointestinal, renal and other toxicities that are otherwise induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the discovery by the inventors that it is possible to link a nitrogen monoxide group, nitric oxide (NO), to a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent and that the resulting compounds not only possess potent analgesic/antiinflammatory properties but has a much reduced potential for producing gastrointestinal lesions (ulcers).

The present invention is further based on the discovery by the inventors that it is possible to coadminister a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) and a compound that directly donates, releases or transfers nitrogen monoxide(preferably as a charged species, particularly nitrosonium) to prevent, reduce, or reverse the gastrointestinal, renal, and other toxicities induced by the NSAID. NSAIDs are antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic compounds that act as cyclooxygenase, the enzyme responsible for the biosyntheses of the prostaglandins and certain autocoids, inhibitors, including inhibitors of the various isozymes of cyclooxygenase (including but not limited to cyclooxygenase-1 and -2) and as inhibitors of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. A nitric oxide donor is a compound that contains a nitric oxide moiety and which directly release or directly chemically transfers nitrogen monoxide (nitric oxide), preferably in its positively charged nitrosonium form, to another molecule. Nitric oxide donors include but are not limited to S-nitrosothiols, nitrites, N-oxo-N-nitrosamines, and substrates of various forms of nitric oxide synthase.

In one aspect the present invention provides a compound comprising a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent to which is directly or indirectly linked at least one No group. The non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent can, for example, be an aryl propionic acid or an enolic anilide. The invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another aspect the invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of a therapeutically effective amount of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent and an NSAID toxicity reducing amount of a compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide.

In another aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent to which is directly or indirectly linked at least one NO group and a compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide. The non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent can, for example, be an aryl propionic acid or an enolic anilide. The invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In another aspect the invention provides a method for treating inflammation, pain and/or fever in an individual in need thereof which comprises administering to the individual a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, which may optionally be substituted with at least one NO group, and a compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide. The NSAID or NSAID directly or indirectly linked to at least one NO group, and nitric oxide donor can be administered separately or as components of the same composition.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of treating inflammation, pain and/or fever in an individual in need thereof which comprises administering to the individual a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an NSAID, which may optionally be substituted with at least one NO group, and an NSAID toxicity reducing amount of a nitric oxide donor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such compositions are discussed in more detail below.

In another aspect the invention provides a method to decrease or reverse the gastrointestinal toxicity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs administered to an animal, particularly a human, by co-administering to said animal a nitric oxide donor. The NSAID and nitric oxide donor can be administered separately or as components of the same composition.

In another aspect the invention provides a method to decrease or reverse the renal toxicity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs administered to an animal, particularly a human, by co-administering to said animal a nitric oxide donor. The NSAID and nitric oxide donor can be administered separately or as components of the same composition.

In another aspect the invention provides a method to accelerate gastrointestinal tissue repair in an animal, particularly a human, by administering to said animal a nitric oxide donor. The NSAID and nitric oxide donor can be administered separately or as components of the same composition.

Claim 1 of 23 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of reducing drug-induced gastrointestinal or renal toxicity in a patient in need thereof comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide, elevates endogenous synthesis levels of nitric oxide or is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

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