Compositions and Methods for Inducing Hair Growth

Abstract

Novel therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions utilizing tellurium-containing compounds for inducing hair growth for the treatment of various types of alopecia and other conditions associated with hair loss.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to novel therapeutic methods and pharmaceutical compositions for inducing hair growth and, more particularly, to compositions comprising and methods utilizing tellurium-containing compounds for inducing hair growth and thus for the treatment of various types of alopecia and other conditions associated with hair loss.[0002]Alopecia is the most common hair growth disorder in humans. Hair loss most commonly occurs from the scalp. However, any hair-bearing area can be affected, including eyebrows, eyelashes, beard and body areas.[0003]Hair is composed of keratin, a strong structural protein. Each strand of hair consists of three layers:[0004](i) An innermost layer or medulla, which is only present in large thick hairs;[0005](ii) The middle layer known as the cortex, which provides strength and both the color and the texture of hair; and[0006](iii) The outermost layer, known as the cuticle, which is thin and colorle...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for treating or preventing alopecia (hair loss) using a compound with at least one tellurium dioxide moiety. The compound can be administered to a subject in need thereof through various routes such as intraperitoneal, parenteral, oral, topical, rectal, transmucosal, or intravenous. The method may also involve the use of an additional active agent such as minoxidil, finasteride, or retin. The invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound for treating alopecia. The technical effect of the invention is to provide an effective treatment for alopecia without causing male pattern baldness or other side effects associated with current treatments."

Problems solved by technology

However, any hair-bearing area can be affected, including eyebrows, eyelashes, beard and body areas.

The two main disadvantages associated with minoxidil are its high cost, and the need for its continuous application in order to maintain the results achieved.

In addition, its application is associated with side effects such as itching of the scalp, skin irritations such as eczema, irritant dermatitis, allergic and contact dermatitis, nonspecific allergic reactions, such as hives, allergic rhinitis, facial swelling, and sensitivity, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and visual disturbances.

Cardiovascular side effects and excessive hair growth have also occurred as a result of topical application of minoxidil.

Patients with underlying heart disease may be at increased risk for these or other cardiovascular adverse effects.

Propecia has been found to be ineffective in treating women suffering from androgenetic alopecia.

However very high doses are needed for it to be effective and this may result in side effects, which can include vomiting and diarrhea.

Possible side effects of oral cortisone include fluid retention and weight increase, osteoporosis, hypertension, sugar diabetes, indigestion or worsening of a peptic ulcer, mood changes, impaired healing of cuts, increased growth of facial hair, increased risk of infection, muscle weakness, joint pain and cataract of the eye.

It has been found that agents which protect against alopecia induced by a particular drug may be ineffective in protecting against a different drug.

Traction alopecia is usually caused by continuous and excessive pulling on the hair due to various types of hairstyling, which gradually results in hair loss that may become permanent.

A sudden or stressful event can cause the hair follicles to prematurely stop growing and enter into a resting phase.

However in some cases the hair loss continues until the underlying cause is removed.

In some cases hair thinning may occur due to the male hormones present is some types of contraceptive pills, resulting in hair loss similar to that of androgenetic alopecia.

Discontinuation of the pill can result in hair loss similar to that which occurs after childbirth, due to the drop in hormone levels.

These events may trigger hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely in which case an increase in the amount of hair shed will be noticed about 3 months after the event.

Hence, while the prior art teaches the use of various medications for treating the different types of alopecia, these treatments are oftentimes limited by high cost, prolonged treatment periods, insufficient efficacy and / or adverse side effects.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,262,149 and 6,522,089, however, fail to demonstrate the efficacy of these tellurium-containing compounds in treating types of alopecia other than male pattern baldness and alopecia induced by an antineoplastic agent.

Although U.S. Pat. No. 5 6,522,089 refers to non-scarring alopecia as including toxic alopecia, alopecia greata and trichotillomania, and teaches that non-scarring alopecia may be avoided or reduced by administration of an effective amount of an effective tellurium compound, this patent fails to provide enabling examples with regard to forms of alopecia other than alopecia induced by chemotherapeutic agents.

While these studies demonstrate the effect of AS101 in the treatment of anagen effluvium, the efficacy of AS101 in treating other types of alopecia have not been demonstrated.

However, the effect of these recently disclosed tellurium-containing compounds on hair growth in general and in treating alopecia in particular has not been suggested nor practiced.

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