Claims for Patent: 6,124,304

Summary for Patent: 6,124,304

Title:	Penciclovir for the treatment of zoster associated pain
Abstract:	A method for the treatment of ZAP, in particular PHN, in mammals, including humans, which method comprises administering to the mammal in need of such treatment, an effective amount of penciclovir or famciclovir, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
Inventor(s):	Boon; Ronald James (Dorking, GB), Griffin; David Ronald John (Bishop's Stortford, GB)
Assignee:	SmithKline Beecham PLC (Brentford, GB)
Application Number:	09/187,660
Patent Claims:	1. A method for the treatment of zoster associated pain (ZAP) in a human in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said human, an effective amount of the compound 9-(4-acetoxy-3-acetoxymethylbut-1-yl)-2-aminopurine (famciclovir), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein treatment is commenced within 72 hours of rash onset. 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein treatment is commenced 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 famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg twice or three times a day. 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg three times a day. 10. A method according to claim 8 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg three times a day. 11. A method according to claim 8 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg twice a day. 12. A method according to claim 8 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 750 mg once a day. 13. A method for the prophylatic treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in a human in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said human, an effective amount of the compound 9-(4-acetoxy-3-acetoxymethylbut-1-yl)-2-aminopurine (famciclovir), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the treatment is commenced within 72 hours of rash onset. 15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the treatment is commenced within 48 hours of rash onset. 16. A method according to claim 13 where the treatment period is 7 days. 17. A method according to claim 13 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 50 years of age. 18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 60 years of age. 19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 70 years of age. 20. A method according to claim 13 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg once, twice or three times a day. 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 250 mg three times a day. 22. A method according to claim 20 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg three times a day. 23. A method according to claim 20 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 500 mg twice a day. 24. A method according to claim 20 wherein famciclovir is administered at a dose of 750 mg once a day. 25. A method for the treatment of zoster associated pain (ZAP) in a human in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said human, an effective amount of the compound 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbut-1-yl)guanine (penciclovir), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the treatment is commenced within 72 hours of rash onset. 27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the treatment is commenced within 48 hours of rash onset. 28. A method according to claim 25 where the treatment period is 7 days. 29. A method according to claim 25 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 50 years of age. 30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 60 years of age. 31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 70 years of age. 32. A method according to claim 25 wherein penciclovir is administered topically. 33. A method according to claim 25 wherein the compound is the sodium salt of penciclovir. 34. A method according to claim 25 wherein the compound is administered parenterally. 35. A method for the prophylatic treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) in a human in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said human, an effective amount of the compound 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbut-1-yl)guanine (penciclovir), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 36. A method according to claim 35 wherein the treatment is commenced within 72 hours of rash onset. 37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the treatment is commenced within 48 hours of rash onset. 38. A method according to claim 35 where the treatment period is 7 days. 39. A method according to claim 35 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 50 years of age. 40. A method according to claim 39 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 60 years of age. 41. A method according to claim 40 wherein the treatment is carried out on patients of greater than 70 years of age. 42. A method according to claim 35 wherein the compound is administered parenterally.