Use of bis-amines to enhance the antimicrobial activity of aqueous compositions

1. A sterile, aqueous ophthalmic composition comprising a bis-amine of the following formula, in an amount effective to enhance the antimicrobial activity of the composition:

wherein:

R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of:

H; —CH 2 OH; and C 1 -C 5 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is —CH 2 OH, and no more than two of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are CH 2 OH; and

X is selected from the group consisting of:

C 1 -C 16 saturated or unsaturated alkylene, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms;

(—CH 2 —) w CHOH—CHOH(—CH 2 —) w , wherein w is a whole number of from 1 to 6 and the hydroxy groups are in either cis or trans configurations;

(—CH 2 —O—CH 2 —) x , wherein x is a whole number of from 1 to 6;

(—CH═CH—) y , wherein y is a whole number of from 1 to 6; and

(—C≡C—) z , wherein z is a whole number from 1 to 6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and

a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor, said composition having a physiologically compatible pH and an osmolality of 210 to 320 mOsm/kg.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein X is C 1 -C 16 saturated or unsaturated alkylene, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein X is C 1 -C 16 saturated alkylene.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein one of R1, R2 or R3 is —CH 2 OH, one of R4, R5 and R6 is —CH 2 OH, and the remainder of the R1-R6 groups are straight or branched alkyl.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the bis-amine of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of (1,3-bis[(dimethyl, hydroxymethyl)methylamino]propane; 1,6-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]hexane; and 1,4-bios[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]butane.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the bis-amine of formula (I) is (1,3-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]propane.

7. A method of enhancing the antimicrobial activity of a sterile, aqueous pharmceutical composition, which comprises including an effective amount of a bis-amine in the composition, said bis-amine having the formula:

wherein:

R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of:

H; —CH 2 OH; and C 1 -C 5 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; provided that at least one of R1R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 is —CH 2 OH, and no more than two of R1R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 —CH 2 OH; and

X is selected from the group consisting of:

C 1 -C 16 saturated or unsaturated alkylene, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms;

(—CH 2 -) w CHOH—CHOH(—CH 2 -) w , wherein w is a whole number of from 1 to 6 and the hydroxy groups are in either cis or trans configurations;

(—CH 2 —O—CH 2 -) x , wherein x is a whole number of from 1 to 6;

(—CH═CH—) y , wherein y is a whole number of from 1 to 6; and

(—C≡C—) z , wherein z is a whole number from 1 to 6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereot and

a phamaceutically acceptable vehicle therefor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein X is C 1 -C 16 saturated or unsaturated alkylene, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein X is C 1 -C 16 saturated alkylene.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein one of R1, R2 or R3 is —CH 2 OH, one of R4, R5 and R6 is CH 2 OH, and the remainder of the R1-R6 groups are straight or branched alkyl.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the bis-amine of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of (1,3-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl) methylamino]propane; 1,6-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]hexane; and 1,4-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]butane.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the bis-amine of formula (I) is (1,3-bis[(dimethyl,hydroxymethyl)methylamino]propane.

13. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a borate.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition further comprises a borate.

15. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one additional antimicrobial agent.

16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the at least one additional antimicrobial agent is either an amidoamine or an amino alcohol.

17. The composition of claim 15 wherein the at least one additional antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-1, myristamidopropyl dimethylamine and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.

18. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition further comprises at least one additional antimicrobial agent.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one additional antimicrobial agent is either an amidoamine or an amino alcohol.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one additional antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-1, myristamidopropyl dimethylamine and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.