Topical administration of basic antifungal compositions to treat fungal infections of the nails
OwnerHoward I. Maibach, Eric C. Luo +1inventors
InventorsHoward I. Maibach, Eric C. Luo, Tsung-Min Hsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and topical pharmaceutical formulations are provided for the treatment of nail fungus (onychomycosis). The invention involves a pharmacologically active antifungal agent, plus a pharmaceutically acceptable base in a formulation having a pH of 7.5 to about 13.0, preferably about 8.0 to 11.5, and most preferably about 8.5 to 10.5. These basic formulations permeate the nail and are effective in treating fungal infections of the nail and surrounding tissues.
Claims32
A method of treating an individual afflicted with onychomycosis, comprising topically applying to an affected area of the individual's nail and surrounding tissue a formulation consisting essentially of a pharmaceutically acceptable topical carrier, an effective skin-permeation enhancing amount of an inorganic hydroxide or a mixture thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of an antifungal agent, wherein the effective skin-permeation enhancing amount corresponds to a concentration sufficient to provide a formulation pH in the range of approximately 7.5 to 13.0, wherein the formulation does not contain any additional permeation enhancers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.