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Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Claims for Patent: 6,383,522


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Summary for Patent: 6,383,522
Title: Toxicity reduced composition containing an anti-neoplastic agent and a shark cartilage extract
Abstract:This invention described a novel use for cartilage extract, namely a shark cartilage extract, in a combined anti-tumor therapy. The cartilage extract is used in combination with anti-neoplastics. The combined therapy provides for a higher anti-tumor efficacy with no concomitant increase, even better with a decrease, of toxic side effects.
Inventor(s): Dupont; Eric (Saint-Nicolas, CA)
Assignee: Les Laboratoires Aeterna, Inc. (Quebec, CA)
Application Number:09/393,037
Patent Claims:1. A method of reducing the amount or severity of side effects caused by an anti-neoplastic agent during cancer or tumor therapy comprising the steps of:

administering an anti-tumor amount of anti-neoplastic agent;

administering a toxicity reducing amount of a shark cartilage extract sufficient to reduce the amount or severity of side effects caused by the anti-neoplastic agent; wherein said shark cartilage extract has been prepared according to a process comprising the step of:

fractionating a crude cartilage extract comprising water soluble molecules obtained from shark cartilage material, wherein said fractionating removes molecules having a molecular weight of greater than about 500 kDa, thereby to form said shark cartilage extract.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-neoplastic agent is administered at an optimal dose and the shark cartilage extract enhances the efficacy of the anti-neoplastic agent and decreases the amount or severity of side effects caused by the anti-neoplastic agent.

3. The method of claim 1, herein the anti-neoplastic agent is administered at a sub-optimal dose and the shark cartilage extract enhances the efficacy of the anti-neoplastic agent to that of at least an optimal dose and decreases the amount or severity of side effects caused by the anti-neoplastic agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-neoplastic agent and the shark cartilage extract are administered concurrently or in a time-overlapping manner.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-neoplastic agent and the shark cartilage extract are administered sequentially.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-neoplastic agent is selected from the group consisting of busulfan, thiotepa, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, estramustine sodium phosphate, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine hydrochloride, melphalan, carmustine, lomustine, streptozocin, carboplatin, cisplatin, methotrexate sodium, cladribine, mercaptopurine, thioguanine, cytarabine, fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, daunorubicin, doxorubicin hydrochloride, epirubicin hydrochloride, idarubicin hydrochloride, dactinomycin, bleomycin sulfate, mitomycin, mitotane, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, etoposide, teniposide, docetaxel, paclitaxel, vinblastine sulfate, vincristine sulfate, vindesine sulfate, vinorelbine tartrate, altretamine, amsacrine, l-asparaginase, dacarbazine, fludarabine phosphate, porfimer sodium, procarbazine hydrochloride, tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid), marimastat, suramin, TNP 470, thalidomide and radiotherapy and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shark cartilage extract protects against the reduction of white blood cells caused by the anti-neoplastic agent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shark cartilage extract protects against excessive weight loss caused by the anti-neoplastic agent.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer or tumor therapy is carcinoma therapy.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the carcinoma therapy is lung carcinoma therapy.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the shark cartilage extract provides a decrease in morbidity or mortality in a first population as compared to the morbidity or mortality achieved by a similar second population not being administered the shark cartilage extract.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the shark cartilage extract at least one of:

protects against excessive hair loss caused by the anti-neoplastic agent;

reduces the incidence of nausea typically associated with administration of the anti-neoplastic agent;

improves nail and hair health in a first population as compared to that achieved by a similar second population not being administered the shark cartilage extract; and

reduces the incidence of bone marrow suppression typically associated with administration of the anti-neoplastic agent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the process for preparing the shark cartilage extract further comprises the step of separating shark cartilage particles from a liquid to form the crude liquid extract.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the process for preparing the shark cartilage extract further comprises the step of reducing the particle size of a shark cartilage material and extracting molecules having a molecular weight lower than about 500 kDa from the shark cartilage material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of reducing the particle size comprises homogenizing shark cartilage material in a liquid to form particles having an average particle size of about 500 .mu.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the homogenizing step is conducted in an aqueous-solution.

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