Pharmaceutical and cosmetic carrier or composition for topical application

1. A pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) an oleaginous pharmaceutical or cosmetic carrier comprising, by weight:

75–99 percent of a hydrophobic solvent, and

1–25 percent of a solidifying agent, wherein said solidifying agent consists essentially of a long chain fatty alcohol having at least 15 carbon atoms in its carbon backbone and a fatty acid having at least 18 carbons in its carbon backbone,

wherein the carrier is semi-solid at rest and liquefies upon application of shear forces thereto; and

(b) a therapeutically or cosmetically effective amount of a biologically active substance.

2. A pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition comprising:

(a) an oleaginous pharmaceutical or cosmetic carrier comprising, by weight:

75–99 percent of a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the hydrophobic solvent comprises an omega-3 or omega-6 oil, and

1–25 percent of a solidifying agent, wherein said solidifying agent is selected from the group consisting essentially of long chain fatty alcohols having at least 15 carbon atoms in its carbon backbone and fatty acids having at least 18 carbons in its carbon backbone,

and wherein the carrier is semi-solid at rest and liquefies upon application of shear forces thereto; and

(b) a therapeutically or cosmetically effective amount of a biologically active substance.

3. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the carrier comprises, by weight, 4–12 percent of a solidifying agent and 88–96 percent of a hydrophobic solvent.

4. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the carrier comprises, by weight, 5–10 percent of the solidifying agent.

5. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein solidifying agent has melting point of less than 80° C.

6. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the hydrophobic solvent comprises at least 6% of an omega-3 or omega-6 oil.

7. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic solvent is selected from the group consisting of marine animal derived oils, terrestrial animal derived oils, mineral oils, silicone oils and plant-derived oils.

8. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 2 , wherein said hydrophobic solvent further comprises an oil selected from the group consisting of partially or fully hydrogenated plant-derived oils, marine animal-derived oils and terrestrial animal derived oils, mineral oils, emollients, and silicone oils.

9. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic solvent includes an oil selected from the group consisting of olive oil, soybean oil, canola oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, palm oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, rice bran oil, borage seed oil, syzigium aromaticum oil, hempseed oil, herring oil, cod-liver oil, salmon oil, corn oil, flaxseed oil, wheat germ oil, rape seed oil, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil, tea tree oil, melaleuca oil and jojoba oil.

10. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein said fatty acid or said fatty alcohol has at least one alkyl group side chain in its carbon backbone.

11. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein said carbon backbone of said fatty acid or said fatty alcohol has at least one hydroxyl group at position α and β.

12. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition claim 1 or 2 , wherein said carbon backbone of said fatty acid or said fatty alcohol has at least one hydroxyl group at positions 8–14.

13. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein said solidifying agent includes a 12-hydroxy fatty acid.

14. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said solidifying agent and said hydrophobic solvent has a therapeutic or cosmetic beneficial effect.

15. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein said biologically active substance is selected from the group of consisting of an antibiotic agent, a free radical generating agent, an antifungal agent, an antiviral agent, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an immunosuppressant, an antihistamine agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, a retinoid agent, a tar agent, an antipruritics agent and a scabicide agent.

16. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 15 , wherein:

(a) said antibiotic agent is selected from the group consisting of chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, synthetic and semi-synthetic penicillins, beta-lactams, quinolones, fluoroquinolones, macrolide antibiotics, peptide antibiotics, cyclosporines, erythromycin and clyndamycin;

(b) said free radical generating agent is benzoyl peroxide;

(c) said antifungal agent is selected from the group consisting of azoles, diazoles, triazoles, miconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazol, itraconazole griseofulvin, ciclopirox, amorolfine, terbinafine, Amphotericin B and potassium iodide;

(d) said antiviral agent is selected from the group consisting of flucytosine (5FC), vidarabine, acyclovir and gancyclovir;

said nucleoside-analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Zidovudine, Stavudine and Lamivudine;

said non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Nevirapine and Delavirdine;

(e) said protease inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Saquinavir, Ritonavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Ribavirin Amantadine, Rimantadine and Interferon;

(f) said immunosuppressant is selected from the group consisting of Clobetasol proprionate, Halobetasol proprionate, Betamethasone diproprionate, Betamethasone valerate, Fluocinolone acetonide, Halcinonide, Betamethasone valerate, Fluocinolone acetonide, Hydrocortisone valerate, Triamcinolone acetonide, Hydrocortisone and hexachlorobenzene;

(g) said anti-inflammatory agent is a vitamin B3 or a derivative thereof;

(h) said retinoid agent is selected from the group consisting of isotretinoin, adapalene and tretinoin;

(i) said tar agent is selected from the group consisting of coal tar and cade oil;

(j) said antihistamine agent is doxepine hydrochloride;

(k) said antipruritic agent is crotampiton; and

(l) said scabicide agent is selected from the group consisting of benzyl benzoate, malathion and crotamiton.

17. The pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein said biologically active substance is effective in the treatment of a disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, acne, seborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis, alopecia and excessive hair growth, ichthyosis, wounds, burns, cuts, ulcers, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis of the face and trunk, seborrheic blepharitis, contact dermatitis, stasis dermatitis and exfoliative dermatitis.