SKIN-PENETRATING FORMULATION OF TAUROLIDINE

1 . A composition comprising:

hydrolysable taurolidine; and

a hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is contained within the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

and further wherein the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient is myristic acid.

2 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is selected from the group consisting of taurolidine and a salt thereof.

3 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein, when the composition is applied to the skin, the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient facilitates passage of the composition through the skin and, as the composition passes through the skin, the lipophilic excipient is hydrolyzed, exposing the hydrolysable taurolidine to the anatomy, whereupon the taurolidine hydrolyzes into its active moieties which treat the infection.

4 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the active moieties comprise methylol groups.

5 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are combined in mixture form.

6 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are in the form of nanoparticles, wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine comprises a core and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient comprises an encapsulating cover over the hydrolysable taurolidine core.

7 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are suspended in an emulsion.

8 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are suspended in a gel.

9 . A composition according to claim 8 wherein the gel comprises hyaluronic acid.

10 . A composition according to claim 1 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are suspended in a solution.

11 . A novel pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(i) a therapeutically-effective amount of taurolidine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof;

(ii) an effective penetration-enhancing hydrolysable lipophilic excipient which facilitates passage of the taurolidine through the outer layers of the skin and temporarily protects the taurolidine from premature hydrolization to active moieties as the taurolidine passes through the outer layers of the skin, wherein the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient is myristic acid; and

(iii) a suitable pharmaceutical carrier.

12 . A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises an emulsion.

13 . A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises a gel.

14 . A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 13 wherein the gel comprises hyaluronic acid.

15 . A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 11 wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises a solution.

16 . A method for treating a patient, the method comprising:

applying a composition to the skin of a patient, the composition comprising:

hydrolysable taurolidine; and

a hydrolysable lipophilic excipient, wherein the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient is hyaluronic acid;

wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is contained within the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient; and

leaving the composition on the skin of the patient long enough for the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient to facilitate passage of the composition through the skin and, as the composition passes through the skin, the lipophilic excipient is hydrolyzed, exposing the hydrolysable taurolidine to the anatomy, whereupon the taurolidine hydrolyzes into its active moieties so as to provide local antimicrobial effects.

17 . A composition according to claim 16 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are suspended in a gel.

18 . A composition according to claim 17 wherein the gel comprises hyaluronic acid.

19 . A pharmaceutical patch comprising:

a substrate; and

a composition applied to the substrate, the composition comprising:

hydrolysable taurolidine; and

a hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is contained within the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient.

20 . A pharmaceutical patch according to claim 19 wherein the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient is myristic acid.

21 . A pharmaceutical patch according to claim 20 wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine and the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient are carried by a pharmaceutical carrier, and further wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is hyaluronic acid.

22 . A method for treating a patient, the method comprising:

providing a pharmaceutical patch comprising:

a substrate; and

a composition applied to the substrate, the composition comprising:

hydrolysable taurolidine; and

a hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is contained within the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

applying the pharmaceutical patch to the skin of a patient; and

leaving the composition on the skin of the patient long enough for the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient to facilitate passage of the composition through the skin and, as the composition passes through the skin, the lipophilic excipient is hydrolyzed, exposing the hydrolysable taurolidine to the anatomy, whereupon the taurolidine hydrolyzes into its active moieties so as to provide local antimicrobial effects.

23 . A pharmaceutical system comprising:

a novel pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(i) a therapeutically-effective amount of taurolidine or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof;

(ii) an effective penetration-enhancing hydrolysable lipophilic excipient which facilitates passage of the taurolidine through the outer layers of the skin and temporarily protects the taurolidine from premature hydrolization to active moieties as the taurolidine passes through the outer layers of the skin; and

(iii) a suitable pharmaceutical carrier; and

a bandage for covering the novel pharmaceutical composition after the novel pharmaceutical composition has been applied to the skin of a patient.

24 . A pharmaceutical system according to claim 23 wherein the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient is myristic acid.

25 . A pharmaceutical system according to claim 24 wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is hyaluronic acid.

26 . A method for treating a patient, the method comprising:

applying a composition to the skin of a patient, the composition comprising:

hydrolysable taurolidine; and

a hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

wherein the hydrolysable taurolidine is contained within the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient;

covering the composition with a bandage; and

leaving the composition on the skin of the patient long enough for the hydrolysable lipophilic excipient to facilitate passage of the composition through the skin and, as the composition passes through the skin, the lipophilic excipient is hydrolyzed, exposing the hydrolysable taurolidine to the anatomy, whereupon the taurolidine hydrolyzes into its active moieties so as to provide local antimicrobial effects.