Process for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases

#The invention relates to a formulation for the topical application of ebselen in an ointment base, a process for its preparation, and its use in the treatment of inflammatory and allergic skin diseases, more particularly psoriasis.

#Ebselen is a benzisoselenazol derivative having the designation 2-phenyl-1.2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one and is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,799. This patent specification also discloses the use of ebselen in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.

#The invention relates to ebselen ointments for the treatment of skin conditions characterized by epidermal functional disorders, e.g. psoriasis.

#The acive substance, ebselen, is ground to a particle size less than 5 .mu.m and milled in batches with the melted, mixed an cold-stirred ointment base to form a homogenous substance, using an ointment mill, until the active substance/ointment base weight ratio is 1:1 to 1:5. The remaining ointment base is then added to the homogenous active substance mix which is processed to uniformity.

#The resulting suspension ointments are packed in tubes by means of conventional filling equipment.

#Ebselen: 1%