Methods and compounds for the treatment or prevention of severe influenza

1. A method of treating a human patient at risk of severe influenza after an immune response has been triggered, said method comprising administering to the patient a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from endothelial cells and inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has exhibited one or more symptoms of influenza infection for more than two days and has at least one symptom selected from tachypnoea, hypoxemia, cardiopulmonary insufficiency and radiological pulmonary infiltrates.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has exhibited one or more symptoms of influenza infection for more than two days and requires hospitalization in view of the influenza infection.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has exhibited one or more symptoms of influenza infection for more than two days and has at least one symptom selected from tachypnoea, hypoxemia, cardiopulmonary insufficiency and radiological pulmonary infiltrates and requires hospitalization in view of the influenza infection.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said severe influenza is characterised by hypercytokinemia.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said hypercytokinemia involves elevated levels of at least one of the following cytokines: TNF α, IL-6, IL-8, and IP10.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is administered in an amount effective to inhibit the release of IP10 from endothelial cells.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of cytokines released from endothelial cells.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said symptoms or signs of hypoxemia or cardiopulmonary insufficiency include at least one of dyspnoea, tachypnoea, cyanosis, low blood pressure, and hypoxia.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein tachypnoea designates respiratory rate >30 for ages ≥12 years, rate >40 for ages 6 to 12 years, rate ≥45 for ages 3 to 6 years, and rate >50 for ages 1 to 3 years.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said severe influenza is characterised by at least one of comorbidity with a lower respiratory disorder without radiological pulmonary infiltrates, symptoms or signs suggesting CNS, symptoms or signs suggesting peripheral neuromuscular disorders, severe dehydration, fatigue, lethargy, evidence of sustained viral infection, invasive secondary bacterial infection, a lower respiratory tract disorder, inflammation, mono-organ failure, multi-organ failure, and septic shock.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is one of the following: an infant, an elderly person, and a pregnant woman.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient is immunocompromised or has one or more underlying comorbidities.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said one or more underlying comorbidities are selected from COPD, severe genetic anaemia, asthma, diabetes, chronic hepatic or renal insufficiency, obesity, and a cardiovascular disorder or condition.

15. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor to the patient for a maximum period of 1-5 days.

16. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor to the patient once a day.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is selected from 2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4-(fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-1,2-dihydropyrazol-3-one; 4-[4-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(3-phenylpropyl)-5-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-butyn-1-ol; (2R)-2-[[(2R)-2-amino-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoyl]amino]-N-[(2R)-1-[(2R)-1-[(2R)-1-[(2R)-1-[(2R)-1-[(2R)-1-[2-[(2R)-1-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]hexanamide; 2-[6-chloro-5-[(2R,5S)-4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-2,5-dimethylpiperazine-1-carbonyl]-1-methylindol-3-yl]-N,N-dimethyl-2-oxoacetamide; 6-[(6R)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]-2-(2-methylphenyl)pyridazin-3-one; 4-[3-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-ylimidazol-1-yl]propyl]morpholine, 4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-piperidin-4-ylimidazol-4-yl]pyrimidin-2-amine; 4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-piperidin-4-ylimidazol-4-yl]pyridine; 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine; 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(2-methoxypyrimidin-4-yl)imidazol-1-yl]cyclohexan-1-ol; 4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-piperidin-4-ylimidazol-4-yl]-2-methoxypyrimidine; 6-(N-carbamoyl-2,6-difluoroanilino)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine-3-carboxamide; 5-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)sulfanylpyrimido[1,6-b]pyridazin-6-one; 2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-phenylpropyl]amino]-3-methyl-5-naphthalen-2-yl-6-pyridin-4-ylpyrimidin-4-one; 1-[5-tert-butyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-3-[4-(2-morpholin-4-ylethoxy)naphthalen-1-yl]urea; 6-(2,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-(1,5-dihydroxypentan-3-ylamino)-8-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one; 1-[7-(4-fluorophenyl)-8-pyridin-4-yl-3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]-2-phenylethane-1,2-dione; 8-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-2-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-ylamino)-4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one; 2-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(2-phenoxypyrimidin-4-yl)imidazol-1-yl]propane-1,3-diol; N,N′-bis[3,5-bis[(E)-N-(diaminomethylideneamino)-C-methylcarbonimidoyl]phenyl]decanediamide; [2-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-5-methyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl]-morpholin-4-ylmethanone; methanesulfonic acid; [5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-[3-[(2S)-2,3-dihydroxypropoxy]phenyl]methanone; 2-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-N-[3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-pyrimidin-4-yl-1,2-oxazol-5-yl]acetamide; [(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-5-[[2-(aminomethylideneamino)acetyl]-methylamino]-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(7-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-oxo-3a,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)amino]oxan-4-yl]carbamate; 1-[5-tert-butyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-3-[5-fluoro-2-[1-(2-hydroxyethyl)indazol-5-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl]urea; 5-(2,4-difluorophenoxy)-N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-1-(2-methylpropyl)indazole-6-carboxamide; N-cyclopropyl-3-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[3-[1-[2-[2-(methylamino)ethoxy]phenyl]cyclopropyl]amino]-2-oxopyrazin-1-yl]benzamide; 3-[5-amino-4-(3-cyanobenzoyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-N-cyclopropyl-4-methylbenzamide; 4-[5-(cyclopropylcarbamoyl)-2-methylanilino]-5-methyl-N-propylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine-6-carboxamide; 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine; N-[4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-2-methylsulfinylimidazol-4-yl]pyridin-2-yl]acetamide; 1-(5-tert-butyl-2-phenylpyrazol-3-yl)-3-[2-fluoro-4-[(3-oxo-4H-pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-8-yl)oxy]phenyl]urea, 1-(5-tert-butyl-2-phenylpyrazol-3-yl)-3-[2-methylsulfanyl-4-[(3-oxo-4H-pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazin-8-yl)oxy]phenyl]urea; 4-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2-thiazolamine dihydrochloride; 5-(2-chloroethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazole; ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid; 2′-Fluoro-N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-butanamide; [4-(2-amino-4-bromoanilino)-2-chlorophenyl]-(2-methylphenyl)methanone; (E)-3-[4-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enoic acid; 17alpha-ethynyl-5-androstene-3beta, 7beta, 17beta-triol; (Z)-6-amino-2-(3′,5′-dibromo-4′-hydroxybenzylidene)-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-3 (4H)-one; (4-benzylpiperidin-1-yl)-(2-methoxy-4-methylsulfanylphenyl)methanone; 6-[5-(cyclopropylcarbamoyl)-3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl]-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)pyridine-3-carboxamide; 5-[2-tert-butyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-3-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine; methanesulfonic acid; 4-[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl]-N-(1-phenylethyl)pyridin-2-amine; 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxychromen-4-one; 1-[5-tert-butyl-2-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-3-[2-[3-[2-(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-6-yl]sulfanyl]phenyl]methyl]urea; 3-[3-bromo-4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methoxy]-6-methyl-2-oxopyridin-1-yl]-N,4-dimethylbenzamide; 5-[2-tert-butyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-3-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-amine; 4-[4-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbamoylamino]-3-fluorophenoxy]-N-methylpyridine-2-carboxamide; [5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-[3-[(2S)-2,3-dihydroxypropoxy phenyl]methanone, 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl]phenol; 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine hydrochloride; 4-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl]phenol hydrochloride; 1-[4-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-pyrimidin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]piperidin-1-yl]-2-hydroxyethanone; N,N′-bis[3,5-bis[(E)-N-(diaminomethylideneamino)-C-methylcarbonimidoyl]phenyl]decanediamide, 6-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-pyridin-4-yl-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazole; 2-[6-chloro-5-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]piperidine-1-carbonyl]-1-methylindol-3-yl]-N,N-dimethyl-2-oxoacetamide; [5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-[3-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)phenyl]methanone; N-[4-[2-ethyl-4-(3-methylphenyl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]pyridin-2-yl]benzamide; 4-[4-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]pyridine; 4,6-bis(p-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-1,2,7-triaza-2H-indene; and 2-(3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-5-yl)acetic acid.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor is selected from 8-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-2-(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-ylamino)-4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one, (E)-3-[4-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enoic acid; 6-[5-(cyclopropylcarbamoyl)-3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl]-N-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)pyridine-3-carboxamide, 5-[(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)acetylamino]-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-(4-pyrimidinyl)isoxazole, 1-[5-tert-butyl-2-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]-3-[2-[3-[2-(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)phenyl]-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-6-yl]sulfanyl]phenyl]methyl]urea, 3-[3-bromo-4-[(2,4-difluorophenyl)methoxy]-6-methyl-2-oxopyridin-1-yl]-N,4-dimethylbenzamide, 2-methoxy-1-{4-[(4-{3-[5-(tert-butyl)-2-(p-tolyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]ureido}-1-naphthyloxy)methyl]-2-pyridylamino}-1-ethanone, 2-methoxy-1-[4-(4-{3-[5-(tert-butyl)-2-(p-tolyl)-2H-pyrazol-3-yl]ureido}-1-naphthyloxy)-2-pyridylamino]-1-ethanone, and 4,6-bis(p-fluorophenyl)-2-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-1,2,7-triaza-2H-indene.

19. A method of treating hypercytokinemia characteristic of severe influenza, the method comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor; wherein the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory mediators from endothelial cells and inhibits the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from immune cells.