US 2008/0075742 A1 · Compositions Comprising Fetal Hemoglobin and Bacterial Endotoxin and Optionally Additional Fetal Liver Components

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition representing a novel immunomodulating principle comprising bacterial endotoxin, fetal hemoglobin or more particularly a heme-free derivative or the γ-chain thereof, and optionally, components which are present in the fetal liver in addition to HbF. The composition is delivered to humans in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent. In accordance with the present invention it was surprisingly found that endotoxin and fetal hemoglobin partial structures display a pronounced synergistic biomedical activity. The biomedical effect of fetal hemoglobin and its partial structures is surprisingly not based on a classical hemoglobin function as an oxygen transporter but related to a modulation of endotoxin-mediated bioactivity. This biomedical activity is surprisingly also observed after oral application of the composition. The composition of the invention finds a variety of applications which have in common the stimulation of the immune system and the reversion in polarization of cytokines and chemokines from a Th2-directed response to a Th1-type response. The proposed applications would therefore include the treatment of allergic conditions, malignancies, chronic infections, autoimmune phenomena and age-related imbalances.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A pharmaceutical composition consisting of endotoxin or an endotoxically active portion thereof, fetal hemoglobin or (a) single chain(s) thereof or (a) combination(s) of chains thereof, and, optionally, (an) additional compound(s) and optionally an excipient;

or
comprising endotoxin or an endotoxically active portion thereof, fetal hemoglobin or (a) single chain(s) thereof or (a) combination(s) of chains thereof, optionally (an) additional compound(s) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or diluent and/or excipient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compositions Comprising Fetal Hemoglobin and Bacterial Endotoxin and Optionally Additional Fetal Liver Components

Life of this patent

Compositions Comprising Fetal Hemoglobin and Bacterial Endotoxin and Optionally Additional Fetal Liver Components

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28