Claims for Patent: 6,479,500

Summary for Patent: 6,479,500

Title:	Agents for alleviating side effects
Abstract:	The present invention provides an agent for alleviating side effects caused by use of an anti-tumor agent, which contains 5-chloro-6-(2-iminopyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidi nedione (1) represented by formula (1):or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The 5-chloro-6-(2-iminopyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof exhibit an inflammatory-suppressing action in the digestive tract and advantageously alleviate diarrhea and loss of body weight concomitant with administration of a chemical for treating cancer without suppressing the anti-tumor effect. Thus, the compounds of the present invention are of great value as agents for alleviating side effects caused by use of an anti-tumor agent, which enable not only the chemotherapy to be continuedly carried out, but also the body exhaustion to be effectively prevented.
Inventor(s):	Masakazu Fukushima, Noriyuki Yamamoto, Norihiko Suzuki
Assignee:	Taiho Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
Application Number:	US09/701,041
Patent Claims:	1. A method for alleviating side effects caused by use of an anti-tumor agent comprising administering 5-chloro-6-(2-iminopyrrolidin-1-yl)methyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione represented by formula (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient to whom an anti-tumor agent has been administered. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the side effect caused by use of the anti-tumor agent is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or loss of body weight. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-tumor agent is an antimetabolite, an alkylating agent, a plant-derived compound, an antibiotic, or a platinum-containing agent. 4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-tumor agent is 5-trifluoromethyl-2′-deoxyuridine, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, or cisplatin.