Administration of biologically active vitamin D.sub.3 and vitamin D.sub.2 materials
AssigneeHoffmann-La Roche Inc.
InventorsMichael F. Holick, Milan R. Uskokovic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for administering biologically active vitamin D.sub.3 and vitamin D.sub.2 materials into the blood system of a subject by providing the biologically active vitamin D.sub.3 or D.sub.2 material to the skin whereby the skin releases the biologically active vitamin D.sub.3 or D.sub.2 material into the blood system in a controlled and prolonged manner.
Claims27
A process of administering a therapeutic amount of a biologically active vitamin D material comprising providing to the skin of a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a biologically active vitamin D.sub.2 or D.sub.3 material of the formula:
- ##STR4## wherein R is methylidene or methyl;
- R.sub.2 is hydrogen, hydroxy or methyl;
- R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen, hydroxy or halogen;
- A and B are individually hydrogen or taken together form a carbon to carbon bond;
- with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 is hydroxy and with the further proviso that when A and B form a carbon to carbon bond, R.sub.2 is methyl
- and allowing the material to transport through the skin into the bloodstream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.