Treating diseases caused by prion proteins or analogues - with calcium channel antagonists or NMDA antagonists, having cytoprotective effect on brain neurons

• Main Authors: SCHATTON, WOLFGANG F. H.., 65760 ESCHBORN, DE, BORMANN, JOACHIM, PRIV.-DOZ. DR., 3400 GOETTINGEN, DE, MUELLER, WERNER E. G., DR., 65203 WIESBADEN, DE, FORREST, JOCK., INVERGOWRIE, DUNDEE, GB
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; German
• Published: 24.03.1994
• Edition: 5
• Subjects: HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES

Use of a calcium-channel antagonist (I), or their derivs. for (a) treating disorders involving prion (or prion-analogue proteins) or (b), cytoprotection of neurons, and other cells, against the cytotoxic effects of such proteins is new. Also new is a similar cytoprotective use of N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists (II), e.g. adamantane derivs. of formula (IIa) and their acid addn. salts. USE/ADVANTAGE - (I) and (II) (opt. used together) are used to treat diseases where prion proteins kill neurons in the brain, specifically transmissible neurodegenerative diseases like kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or Gerstmann-Straeussler-Scheinker syndrome in humans, or scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy or transmissible mink encephalopathy in animals. (I) and (II) are already known, variously, as dopaminergic agents (e.g. for treating Parkinson's disease) ; as antiviral (e.g. anti-HIV) agents, as cytoprotectants for leucocytes and for treating chronic neurodegenerative diseases. 0.001-100 (esp. 6-7) mg/kg/day, typically for 4-8 weeks, as tablets, suppositories, solns. for injection etc. No effective treatment of prior-related diseases is presently available.