Use of 2,5-dihydroxybenzene derivatives for the treatment of arthritis and pain

1. A method of treating arthritis and pain, wherein the arthritis is osteoarthritis and the pain is inflammatory pain, comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I′″) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound of Formula (I′″) is:

wherein:

R 1 is —(CH 2 ) a Y;

Y is —SO 3 H,

R 9 and R 9′ are independently selected from —OH and —OR 2 , wherein at least one of R 9 and

R 9′ is an unsubstituted alkylcarbonyloxy group, and wherein when R 9 and

R 9′ are both —OR 2 , then said R 9 and R 9′ can be the same or different;

R 2 is an unsubstituted alkylcarbonyl group; and

a is a number selected from 0, 1.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is methylcarbonyl.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (I′″) is administered topically, transdermally, orally, buccally, parenterally, by inhalation, rectally, intravaginally, intraocularly, otically or intraarticularly.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the administration of at least one additional therapeutic agent.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of: a chemotherapeutic agent, a corticosteroid, an antibiotic, an analgesic, an alpha-adrenergic blocker, a beta-adrenergic agonist, an anticholinergic, an inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase, an antiandrogen, an immunomodulator, an immunosuppressant, an anti-angiogenic such as anti VEGF, anti FGF, anti HGF and anti EFG; a leukotriene modifier, an aminosalicylate, an anesthetic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, an antiparasitic, a therapy of the solubilized interleukin receptor, intramuscular gold, a cytotoxic, an antioxidant, and combinations of two or more thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I′″) is selected from the group consisting of:

2-(acetyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid; 5-(acetyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid and 2,5-bis(acetyloxy)benzenesulfonic acid.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of Formula (I′″) is selected from the group consisting of:

2-(acetyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzenehomosulfonic acid;

5-(acetyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzenehomosulfonic acid; and

2,5-bis(acetyloxy)benzenehomosulfonic acid.