Claims for Patent: 6,676,977

Summary for Patent: 6,676,977

Title:	Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for reducing the appearance of cellulite
Abstract:	Compositions and methods for reducing or eliminating the appearance of cellulite. The method involves administering to a patient in need of treatment therapeutically effective amounts of a sugar compound that is converted to a glycosaminoglycan in the patient in an amount sufficient to thicken the skin, a primary antioxidant component in an amount sufficient to substantially inhibit the formation of collagenase and elastase, at least one amino acid component in an amount sufficient to assist in the thickening of the skin, and at least one transition metal component in an amount effective to bind collagen and elastic fibers and thicken skin so as to reduce or eliminate the appearance of cellulite. A preferred method of treatment further includes administering the components above in conjunction with a vascular dilator to improve blood supply to the skin and/or a fat burner to reduce absorption or digestion of fat in the digestive tract or to prevent the production of fat. The compositions and methods may optionally include chromium picolinate to facilitate entry of sugar into cells to improve fat metabolism. In one embodiment, these methods encompass administering the amounts as a pharmaceutical composition.
Inventor(s):	Murad; Howard (Marina del Rey, CA)
Assignee:
Application Number:	10/051,189
Patent Claims:	1. A method for reducing or eliminating the appearance of cellulite in a person in need of such treatment comprising administering to the person: a sugar compound that is converted to a glycosaminoglycan in the patient in an amount sufficient to thicken the skin; a primary antioxidant component in an amount sufficient to substantially inhibit the activity of collagenase and elastase in the skin; at least one amino acid component in an amount sufficient to assist in the thickening of the skin; and at least one transition metal component in an amount effective to bind collagen and elastic fibers and thicken skin; at least one of either a fat burner to reduce absorption of fat in the digestive tract or prevent the production of fat, or a vascular dilator to improve blood supply to the skin; and chromium picolinate in an amount sufficient to facilitate entry of sugar into cells to improve metabolism of fats by the body. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sugar, the primary antioxidant, the at least one amino acid component, the at least one transition metal component, the at least one fat burner or a vascular dilator, and the chromium picolinate are administered simultaneously as a pharmaceutical composition. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the composition is administered orally. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the composition is administered as a tablet or capsule having about 1 mg to 2,000 mg of the composition. 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the composition is administered topically. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising administering one or more mono- or poly-hydroxy acids, a mixture thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof in an amount sufficient to exfoliate at least a portion of the skin. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mono- or polyhydroxy acid is tannic acid or salicylic acid. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the chromium picolinate is administered in an amount of about 10 mg to 500 mg. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one fat burner administered comprises from about 750 mg to 1500 mg of hydroxy citric acid or from about 1000 to 2000 mg of chitin. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vascular dilator comprises from about 5 mg to 300 mg of extract of ginko biloba, from about 100 mg to 200 mg of ginsing extract, or from about 75 mg to 1500 mg of phenylalanine. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sugar compound is N-acetylglucosamine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in an amount of from about 40 to 250 mg. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-oxidant is a vitamin C source in an amount of about 35 to 200 mg. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one amino acid component is selected from lysine, proline, cysteine, glycine, methionine, and mixtures thereof in an amount of about 35 to 200 mg. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one transition metal component is selected from zinc, manganese, copper, and mixtures thereof. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering to the person a proanthanol or proanthocyanidin. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising administering a glucosamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, and chondroiton. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the proanthocyanidin is grape seed extract. 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising administering a fruit extract in an amount of from about 0.1 mg to 2,000 mg. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fruit extract is obtained from one or more of apricots, apples, pears, peaches, pineapples, papayas, cherries, kiwis, tangerines, oranges, and pomegranates.

Details for Patent 6,676,977

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	SANTYL	collagenase	Ointment	101995	06/04/1965		2019-08-20