Title:  Treatment of dermal tumors, warts, and viral infections of the respiratory tract in humans using heat-killed P. acnes

United States Patent:  6,726,913

Issued:  April 27, 2004

Inventors:  Van Kampen; Kent R. (Hoover, AL); Edwards; Bobby G. (Salado, TX)

Assignee:  The Van Kampen Group, Inc. (Hoover, AL)

Appl. No.:  689621

Filed:  October 13, 2000

Abstract

Heat-killed, terminally sterilized saline suspensions of Propionibacterium acnes, Propionibacterium avidum, Propionibacterium lymphophilum, Propionibacterium granulosum, Cornynebacterium parvum, and Arachnia propionica are effective in treating viral infections of the respiratory tract in humans, and to induce the regression of dermal tumors and warts in humans. The potency of a saline suspension of heat-killed, terminally sterilized saline suspension of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) was demonstrated through a laboratory animal challenge model. The P. acnes product is administered orally for the purpose of preventing or treating viral infections of the respiratory tract in man. The P. acnes preparation is intralesionally administered into dermal tumors, warts such as plantar warts, or other warts in people caused by the human papilloma virus, to cause regression of such dermal tumors and warts. The subcutaneous route of administration of the P. acnes product causes a systemic reaction that causes long-term warts to completely regress. Anesthetics such as Lidocaine may be added to the P. acnes product to prevent pain upon injection of this immune modulating preparation, while retaining the potency of the P. acnes product. Dose ranges have been established for the oral administration of the P. acnes product to treat viral infections, and for the subcutaneous and intralesional administration of the P. acnes product to treat dermal tumors and warts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is an invention to induce regression of a virally induced dermal tumor, especially plantar warts for which painful surgical removal or chemical burning are the most common methods of removal. These alternate methods cause severe pain and limit mobility to a majority of patients receiving these treatments. It is also an invention to treat and hasten recovery from virally induced infection of the respiratory tract using autoclaved P. acnes through a novel route of administration, previously not demonstrated in man, that of oral administration.

This invention also relates to the preparation of an alcohol-free, terminally sterilized saline-suspended P. acnes product that causes the regression of dermal tumors, and plantar warts in humans. Terminal sterilization may be conducted through the process of autoclaving. In another embodiment of the product, an anesthetic such as lidocaine is added to the P. acnes product. The invention also relates to a novel intralesional administration of the P. acnes product into plantar warts, or other warts caused by the human papilloma virus causing regression of such warts, and the subcutaneous administration of the P. acnes product resulting in a systemic regression of warts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the preparation, administration, and use of an inactivated bacterial product to induce regression of virally induced dermal tumors and warts, and to effectively treat virally induced infections of the respiratory tract. The warts may be plantar, genital, or surface warts anywhere on the skin or mucosal surface of the body, or those caused by the human papilloma virus.

The bacteria used for practicing the invention may be selected from the group consisting of Propionibacterium acnes, Propionibacterium avidum, Propionibacterium lymphophilum, Propionibacterium granulosum, Cornynebacterium parvum or Arachnia propionica. Preferably, the bacteria used for practicing the invention are selected from the Propionibacterium family. Most preferably, the bacteria used for practicing the invention is Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Thus, P. acnes will be the bacterium referred to throughout the description, although any of the bacterial species claimed can be substituted. However, the statements contained in this description should apply to each of the bacteria claimed unless otherwise indicated, since all of the claimed bacteria are expected to have the same results due to their taxonomic similarity. Although it is now recognized that Cornynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) is thought to be synonymous with P. acnes, it has been included in the list due to the use of the name that still exists in the art.

In the present invention, a method for preparing a saline suspension of heat-killed P. acnes with demonstration of potency through a laboratory animal challenge model is disclosed. It has been determined that heat-killing, which usually destroys or alters the antigens needed to stimulate the immune responses, does not destroy the potency of the autoclaved P. acnes product. Furthermore, as shown in laboratory animal potency tests, the addition of an anesthetic such as lidocaine to the autoclaved P. acnes product does not destroy the potency of the P. acnes product.

P. acnes is known to be commercially available in forms such as an injectable solution (e.g., ImmunoRegulin.RTM. or EqStim.RTM. by Neogen Corp. (Lansing, Mich.)), but it may also be isolated and cultured by known, standard bacterial procedures or obtained from national culture collections. The bacteria used were obtained from ImmunoVet Corp. (Tampa, Fla.) who produced them under U.S.D.A. Product Code 9350.00. The bacteria may also be obtained from Neogen Corp. (Lansing, Mich.). The bacteria may be provided wet or dry. A dry form may be prepared by standard drying methods known to a person skilled in the art, such as freeze-drying or evaporation.

P. acnes may be manufactured by laboratory processes known in the art. P. acnes may be isolated and cultured by standard cell culture methods. The P. acnes product is prepared by culturing P. acnes on solid or in liquid media at a temperature of 36^oC.+/-2^oC. for 24 to 192 hours, depending on the culture conditions. P. acnes may be grown on plates, e.g., agar plates containing various nutrients, or in bioreactors. The bioreactors include stationary culture flasks, shaker flasks, standard fermentors, hollow fiber reactors, perfusion reactors, plug flow reactors, etc., containing a fermentation broth with nutrients in dissolved form such as glucose, starches, tryptic soy broth, hormones, coenzymes, and optionally serum. P. acnes is then collected using standard separation methods such as centrifugation, and tested for purity by immunofluoresecence or biochemical testing.

The P. acnes is dried while subjected to heat sufficient to inactivate and kill it. Heat-killing is preferably conducted by heating the P. acnes in a water bath at 74^oC. to 90^oC. for 60 to 90 minutes. The P. acnes is then weighed and suspended in a sterile saline solution at a concentration of 0.005 to 10 mg/ml. The exact concentration is determined by the proposed use of the product, be it the treatment of warts or viral infections of the respiratory tract. The saline solution comprises sodium chloride in a buffer selected from the group consisting of alkaline metal phosphate or citrate buffers, such as sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate, or sodium chloride in dI water. Preferably, the concentration of the sodium chloride is 0.85% w/v, more preferably the concentration of the sodium chloride is 0.9% w/v.

Optionally, the P. acnes may be mixed with carriers and fillers, and brought into the form of a therapeutically enteric pharmaceutical composition. Suitable carriers are sugars including but not limited to lactose, saccharose, mannitol, or sorbitol; cellulose preparations, amino acids such as glycine, binders such as starch pastes that use corn, wheat, rice or potato starch, gelatine, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

Optionally, an anesthetic may be added to the P. acnes product to induce local anesthesia when administered to the patient. Local anesthetics are drugs that block the generation and propagation of impulses in excitable tissues, most notably the spinal cord, spinal nerve roots, and peripheral nerves, but also skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and the brain. Preferably, the anesthetic is chosen from the group consisting of aminoamides, such as lidocaine (xylocaine), and aminoesters such as 2-Chloroprocaine. Preferably, the local anesthetic is lidocaine (xylocaine). Preferably, the anesthetic is added to the P. acnes preparation to make a final concentration of 0.25% to 5.0% v/v, more preferably at a final concentration of 0.5% to 2.5% v/v, and most preferably at a final concentration of 1% to 2% v/v.

The P. acnes may be lyophilized at any step in the preparation process depending on whether the final pharmaceutical formulation is to be stored as a liquid with stabilizing fillers, or as a lyophilized solid.

Once the P. acnes product is in the final vial, it is terminally sterilized by heating to 121^oC., for 20 minutes, at a pressure of 15 psi.

The P. acnes product may be tested for potency using standard animal inoculation tests which consists of pre-inoculating the animal with the product, followed by a lethal challenge of a known bacterial pathogen at 1-7 days which kills at least 75% of the non-inoculated control animals. The dosage units tested are equivalent to 10⁹ -10¹³ P. acnes, preferably 10¹⁰ -10¹² P. acnes. Lidocaine (xylocaine) is added at a dosage that does not affect the potency of the formulation. The laboratory animal potency tests demonstrated that this local anesthetic does not adversely affect the potency of the product.

In the present invention, the autoclaved P. acnes product is administered intralesionally or subcutaneously to cause the regression of plantar warts in humans. The P. acnes product retains activity once autoclaved and once injected, and may be used with or without the addition of an anesthetic. However, the novel addition of anesthetics like lidocaine to this immune modulating preparation of P. acnes retains the potency of the P. acnes while preventing pain upon injection. The warts may be plantar, genital, or surface warts located anywhere on the skin or mucosal surface of the body. The subcutaneous route of administration of the P. acnes product causes a systemic reaction that causes long-term warts to completely regress. Specifically, the subcutaneous injection of the product into the arm induces the regression of warts located on the hands or feet of the patients receiving the injection. Thus, it has been determined that at doses prescribed for intralesional injections, subcutaneous injection may also be effective in causing a systemic regression of the warts. Multiple injections may be made intralesionally or subcutaneously for the purpose of treating plantar warts. Repeated doses in animals or humans have not resulted in any cumulative toxicity. Since the plantar warts are the most difficult variety of the human papilloma to treat, multiple injections may be required over time. However, a single injection may cause regression of the wart. For the regression of warts, the P. acnes is administered at a dose of 0.001 to 5 mg per dosage, preferably at a dose of 0.005 to 2.5 mg per dosage, and more preferably at a dose of 0.01 to 1 mg per dosage.

The P. acnes product may also be used to treat chronic complications of the respiratory tract due to viral or bacterial infections where symptomatic coughs are persistent. The P. acnes product is orally administered as a treatment for acute or subacute viral infections of the respiratory tract in people, at a dose range of 0.1 to 10 mg, and more preferably at a dose range of 0.5 to 5 mg. Oral administration of the heat killed, terminally sterilized P. acnes saline product will hasten recovery from virally induced infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Optionally, an FDA approved natural or synthetic flavoring is added to the final product to make the administered product more palatable. The FDA approved natural flavorings are listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 172.510. The synthetic flavorings are listed in 21 CFR 172.515.

The complete disclosure of all patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference. The detailed descriptions and examples herein have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

EXAMPLE 1

Treatment of Sore Throat, Ear Ache and Cough by Oral Administration of Autoclaved, Heat-killed P. acnes

A sterile saline suspension of non-viable P. acnes, terminally autoclaved for 15 minutes at 15 psi, was orally administered to patients to impede the advancing clinical signs of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, clinically manifested as sore throat, ear ache, and cough.

P. acnes was orally administered to two patients to treat the onset of symptoms of a sore throat and ear inflammation. In each case, the treatment consisted of 2 ml of a saline suspension of non-viable, heat-killed and terminally sterilized P. acnes at a concentration of 0.4 mg per ml. The success of the treatment demonstrates the efficacy of orally administer P. acnes to minimize infections of the respiratory tract in humans. Either one dose or more may be used safely to treat the symptoms of disease.

The first patient was a 60-year old Caucasian male weighing 190 pounds. The patient was treated with the suspension on two separate occasions. The patient had symptoms of a sore throat and ear inflammation. The treatment was administered orally. The material was held at the back of the mouth for about 1 minute before swallowing. In about 8 to 12 hours following the treatment, the patient felt somewhat flushed, a symptom that could be related to the infection or to immunostimulation. Within 24 hours, the onset of the sore throat and the ear infection diminished. Within 2 days, the patient was healthy with no remaining symptoms of the sore throat and ear infection.

In October, 1998, the patient displayed symptoms of sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, sore throat, and aching ears. The treatment was administered orally. The material was held at the back of the mouth for about 1 minute before swallowing. Within the following 24 hour period, the patient again noted a slight febrile response. A second dose, similar to the first dose, was administered twenty-four hours following the first dose. No febrile response was observed after this administration. No symptoms of inflammation of the throat and ears were observed after the first day. However, mild coughing and nasal discharge continued on the second day. On the third day, the symptoms began to abate and on the fourth day, they were entirely gone.

The second patient was a 32-year old Caucasian female weighing about 140 pounds. The patient had a hoarse voice and complained of an ear ache and sore throat. She was given a similar suspension in the same amount as mentioned above. She did not express any adverse reactions or any symptoms other than those relating to her upper respiratory tract infection. The day following treatment, her throat felt better and within two days thereafter, she was again healthy.

This finding demonstrates the efficacy of orally administer P. acnes to minimize infections of the respiratory tract in people. Either one dose or more may be used safely to treat the symptoms of disease.

EXAMPLE 2

Preparation of P. acnes

P. acnes, grown on solid or in liquid media at a temperature of 36^oC. for 7 days is separated, tested for purity (by immunofluorescence) and/or biochemical testing, dried while subjected to heat sufficient to kill it, weighed, and suspended in sterile saline at the desired concentration. In the final vial, the product is terminally sterilized for 20 minutes at 15 psi. Or the product can be modified by (through sterile filling) the addition of lidocaine at the desired concentration to induce local anesthesia when injected. The product is then tested for potency using the laboratory animal inoculation test which consists of pre-incubation with the product and followed several days later by a lethal challenge of a known bacterial pathogen which kills at least 75% of the non-inoculated control animals.

EXAMPLE 3

Evaluation of the Safety of Injecting Heat-killed P. acnes into Volunteers with Plantar Warts

The purpose of this Phase I Safety Study was to evaluate the safety of injecting heat-killed, P. acnes into volunteers with plantar warts. Two routes of administration were utilized, intralesional and subcutaneous. Two dose levels of experimental product (0.1 mg and 0.2 mg.) were injected. The control group was injected intralesionally with sterile saline at a volume consistent with the 0.2 mg amount of P. acnes. Safety parameters were assessed by changes or lack of changes in physical, hematologic, biochemical, and immunologic parameters. The lot # of the Test Article was 022497 and the Placebo was lot #KVK794220. Concentration of P. acnes was 0.4 mg. per milliliter. In order to test for reactions resulting in repeated injections, the volunteers received a series of three injections at intervals of one week. The patients were randomized upon entry to the study and the study was placebo controlled and blinded to the patient, but not to the investigator. The patients were monitored for four weeks following the initial injection.

Anticipated reactions were monitored along with changes in the blood cells, blood chemistry and in the urine. Provisions were in place to focus on any unexpected adverse reactions. The various systemic events monitored included elevated temperature, headache, muscle pain, weakness, chills, nausea, and at the injection site, pain, swelling, redness and discoloration. These are reported on each patient, grouped by treatment and recorded by severity. A summary by treatment groups of the anticipated reactions by number of patients and severity is provided. Separate summary sheets of the observed hematological, chemical and urine changes are also provided for each patient.

In the overall evaluation of the clinical signs designated as anticipated events, in those volunteers who designated the severity as "severe", the total events were ranked in the following order for the combined groups: elevated temperature above 100^oF., (21), pain at the injection site (15), headaches (5), chills (4), muscular pain (4), discoloration (3), weakness (2), nausea (2), swelling (2), and redness (2).

Where the anticipated events were designated as "moderate", the events were ranked as follows for the combined groups: temperature between 98.0 and 99.9^oF., (104), pain at the injection site (30), swelling (27), weakness (9), chills (8), headache (7), treatment groups collectively, there were 8/30 complete regressions, 6/30 that were reduced in size, 10/30 that were not changed in size, 2/30 that were enlarged and 4/30 that were lost to follow-up. In the control group, there were no regressions, no reductions in size, 2/3 that were not changed in size and 1/3 that was enlarged.

These studies show that while concentrations below 0.4 mg/ml are adequate, the volumes required for efficacy are subsequently higher. Therefore, the test material should be concentrated above 0.4 mg per milliliter in order to reduce the volume of intralesional injections. Since there were a number of complete regressions in the groups were the material was administered subcutaneously, both intralesional and subcutaneous administration separately, or in combination, are efficacious.

EXAMPLE 4

Clinical Toxicities of P. acnes in Human Subjects

P. acnes, manufactured within the State of Florida (ImmunoMed Corporation) has been administered intravenously to 21 cancer patients in a completed Phase I study conducted under Florida law. The patients were comprised of 14 males and 7 females, age 38 to 73 years (median=56). The dosage per injection ranged from 25 .mu.g to 800 .mu.g, and the total dosage ranged from a low of 50 .mu.g to a high of 8525 .mu.g.

A total of 256 injections were administered to these patients, and 44 were associated with toxicity (17.2%). Toxicities reported included chills (24/256--9.4%), fever (22/256--8.6%), nausea (10/256=3.9%), myalgia (4/256--1.6%), malaise (2/256--0.8%), and lightheadedness (2/256--0.8%). There was no injection site toxicity reported.

In another experiment with P. acnes, 3 healthy male volunteers were administered the immunostimulant I.V. Two received 0.1 mg (0.0012 mg/kg) and the third received 0.2 mg (0.0023 mg/kg). Fever, chills, malaise, lethargy, and slight muscle soreness were experienced by all three individuals beginning 12-18 hours following injection. One individual, who received 0.2 mg, experience slight nausea without vomiting. Symptoms abated within 24 hours after onset. One individual received 0.1 mg was administered a second injection of 0.1 mg 27 days after the first injection. Only a slight fever (1^oF. increase) was recorded with no other symptomatology.

Intralesional and subcutaneous injections of the test material have minimally associated toxicities. Intravenous administration should have toxicities similar to those reported previously.

Claim 1 of 19 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of inducing the regression of dermal tumors and warts caused by the human papilloma virus in humans, said method comprising the step of administering a bacterial product comprising heat-killed, terminally sterilized Propionibacterium acnes.

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