Title:  Method for treating allergies

United States Patent:  6,369,032

Assignee:  Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Raritan, NJ)

Filed:  September 5, 2001

Use of cathepsin S inhibitors for the treatment of an allergic condition, in particular an atopic allergic condition, more specifically for the treatment of hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis or a food allergy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features the use of cathepsin S inhibitors to treat allergic conditions, including but not limited to atopic allergies. Examples of an allergic condition include hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis and food allergies. Allergens include dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander or pet hair.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from an allergic condition, in particular an atopic allergic condition, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S inhibitor.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a subject suffering from an IgE-mediated allergic condition, in particular an atopic allergic condition, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S inhibitor.

A third aspect of the invention provides the use, or the use for the manufacture of a medicament, of a cathepsin S inhibitor for treating an allergic condition, more in particular for treating IgE-mediated allergic conditions, still more in particular treating hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis or food allergies. The invention also features anti-allergic pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient an effective amount of a cathepsin S inhibitor, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The active ingredient can be formulated in any manner suitable for the particular allergic condition, including aerosol, oral and topical formulations and time-release formulations.

Claim 1 of 17 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating a subject suffering from an allergic condition, said method comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a cathepsin S inhibitor.

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