MEK inhibitors for the treatment of hantavirus infections
The present invention relates to MEK inhibitors that are capable of displaying one or more beneficial therapeutic effects. The MEK inhibitors can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of hantavirus infection.
1 . A method of preventing or treating of a hantavirus infection in a mammal comprising:
identifying the mammal as in need of prophylaxis on the basis of exposure to hantavirus infection or as in need of treatment on the basis of evidence of an acute hantavirus infection,
administering to the mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a MEK inhibitor, wherein the MEK inhibitor is CI-1040 or PD-0184264, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or metabolite thereof.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a rodent or a human.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a human and the human shows symptoms of Hantavirus Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), or Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered up to 12 hours, up to 24 hours, up to 48 hours, up to 72 hours or between 4 and 10 days after the first symptoms of HFRS or HPS are observed.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human identified as having an exposure to rodents or rodent excrement within a period of between 12 hours and 10 days prior to the administration, and wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered for prevention of hantavirus infection.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the human subject has been living or visiting in a region known to have hantavirus infections that result in HFRS or HPS.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the hantavirus is a Hantaan or a Dobrava virus infection or a hantavirus infection caused by a Hantavirus species selected from the group consisting of Black Creek Canal virus (BCCV), New York orthohantavirus (NYV), Monongahela virus (MGLV), Sin Nombre orthohantavirus (SNV), and Andes virus.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered orally or via inhalation.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the mammal is a rodent and the MEK inhibitor is administered to rodent populations to prevent infection of humans in contact with the rodents.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered by inhalation.
11 . A method of preventing a hantavirus infection in a mammal comprising:
identifying the mammal as in need of prophylaxis on the basis of having an exposure to rodents or rodent excrement within a period of between 12 hours and 10 days prior to the administration,
administering to the mammal in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a MEK inhibitor, wherein the MEK inhibitor is CI-1040 or PD-0184264, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or metabolite thereof.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the mammal is a rodent or a human.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered orally or via inhalation.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the MEK inhibitor is administered by inhalation.