Claims for Patent: 6,759,398

Summary for Patent: 6,759,398

Title:	Anti-inflammatory androstane derivative
Abstract:	According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising a compound of formula (I), ##STR1## or a solvate thereof, together with a long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist which formulation has a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more.
Inventor(s):	Biggadike; Keith (Stevenage, GB)
Assignee:	SmithKline Beecham Corporation (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Number:	10/066,836
Patent Litigation and PTAB cases:	See patent lawsuits and PTAB cases for patent 6,759,398
Patent Claims:	1. A pharmaceutical formulation for administration by inhalation comprising a compound of formula (I), ##STR26## or a solvate thereof, together with a long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist which formulation has a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more. 2. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 wherein the compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof and the long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist are both present in particulate form. 3. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 2 further comprising a particulate carrier. 4. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 3 wherein the carrier is lactose. 5. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 further comprising a liquified propellant gas. 6. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 2 further comprising a liquified propellant gas. 7. A pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1 wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma. 8. A method of treatment of a inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract once-per-day which comprises administration of a pharmaceutical formulation according to claim 1. 9. A method of treatment according to claim 8 wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma. 10. An inhaler containing a plurality of doses of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a compound of formula (I) ##STR27## or a solvate thereof, together with a long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist, which formulation has a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more, and which doses are suitable for once-per-day administration of the formulation by inhalation. 11. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein the compound of formula (I) or a solvate thereof and the long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist are both present in particulate form. 12. An inhaler according to claim 11 wherein the formulation further comprises a particulate carrier. 13. An inhaler according to claim 12 wherein the carrier is lactose. 14. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein the formulation further comprises a liquefied propellant gas. 15. An inhaler according to claim 11 wherein the formulation further comprises a liquefied propellant gas. 16. An inhaler containing a plurality of doses of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a particulate compound of formula (I) ##STR28## or a solvate thereof, a particulate long-acting .beta..sub.2 -adrenoreceptor agonist and a carrier, each drug being present in an amount adequate to provide a therapeutically useful effect in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract over a period of 24 hours or more following once-per-day dosing by inhalation. 17. An inhaler according to claim 10 wherein wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma. 18. An inhaler according to claim 16 wherein wherein the inflammatory disorder of the respiratory tract is asthma.