Polyethylene glycol compositions for controlling relapse of herpes labialis, herpes genitalis, and herpes zoster
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapy, and more specifically to the field of therapy for herpes simplex and herpes zoster, and more particularly, to methods of reducing the rate of relapse, delaying relapse, and/or preventing relapse of herpes labialis (cold sores on the lips), herpes genitalis (genital herpes), and herpes zoster (shingles, zona), by topical administration of polyethylene glycol (PEG), or a composition comprising PEG.
1. A method of reducing the rate of relapse of herpes labialis in a patient, comprising topically administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising polyethylene glycol;
wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 4 weeks;
wherein the topical administration is from once daily to five times daily;
wherein the topical administration is on and/or around the lips of said patient;
wherein the composition contains about 90 to 100% polyethylene glycol by weight of the overall composition;
wherein the polyethylene glycol is polyethylene glycol polymer having weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 300 to about 500, and wherein the polyethylene glycol is used as the sole anti-herpetic agent in the composition.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 8 weeks.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 3 months.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 6 months.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 1 year.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the topical administration is from once daily to three times daily.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the topical administration is on at least a part of the lips and the surrounding facial skin <1 cm from the border of the lips of said patient.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is from about 0.02 g to about 2 g per administration.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol is polyethylene glycol polymer having weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 400.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 8 weeks.
11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 3 months.
12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 6 months.
13. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 1 year.
14. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the topical administration is from once daily to three times daily.
15. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the topical administration is on at least a part of the lips and the surrounding facial skin <1 cm from the border of the lips of said patient.
16. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is from about 0.02 g to about 2 g per administration.
17. A method of reducing the rate of relapse of herpes labialis in a patient, comprising topically administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising polyethylene glycol;
wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 4 weeks;
wherein the topical administration is from once daily to five times daily;
wherein the topical administration is on and/or around the lips of said patient;
wherein the composition contains about 85 to 100% polyethylene glycol by weight of the overall composition;
wherein the polyethylene glycol is a mixture of two polyethylene glycol polymers:
(a) polyethylene glycol polymer with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 300 to about 500; and
(b) polyethylene glycol polymer with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 6,000 to about 10,000;
wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is about 5:1 to about 10:1, and wherein the polyethylene glycol is used as the sole anti-herpetic agent in the composition.
18. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 8 weeks.
19. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 3 months.
20. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 6 months.
21. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 1 year.
22. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the topical administration is from once daily to three times daily.
23. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the topical administration is on at least a part of the lips and the surrounding facial skin <1 cm from the border of the lips of said patient.
24. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is from about 0.02 g to about 2 g per administration.
25. A method according to claim 17 , wherein:
the polyethylene glycol is a mixture of two polyethylene glycol polymers:
(a) polyethylene glycol polymer with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 400; and
(b) polyethylene glycol polymer with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 8,000;
wherein the weight ratio of component (a) to component (b) is about 5:1 to about 8:1.
26. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 8 weeks.
27. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 3 months.
28. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 6 months.
29. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the method is performed for a duration of at least 1 year.
30. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the topical administration is from once daily to three times daily.
31. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the topical administration is on at least a part of the lips and the surrounding facial skin <1 cm from the border of the lips of said patient.
32. A method according to claim 25 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is from about 0.02 g to about 2 g per administration.
33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is initiated when the patient has no symptoms of herpes labialis infection.
34. The method of claim 17 , wherein the administering is initiated when the patient has no symptoms of herpes labialis infection.
35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition does not contain a therapeutically effective amount of an additional antiherpetic agent.
36. The method of claim 17 , wherein the composition does not contain a therapeutically effective amount of an additional antiherpetic agent.
37. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the composition consists of:
(i) polyethylene glycol, which is used as the sole anti-herpetic agent or
(ii) polyethylene glycol, one or more pharmaceutically inert excipients and, optionally, a non-therapeutically effective amount of one or more additional antiherpetic agents;
and wherein the administering is initiated when the patient has no symptoms of herpes labialis.
38. The method of claim 17 , wherein the composition consists of:
(i) polyethylene glycol, which is used as the sole anti-herpetic agent or
(ii) polyethylene glycol, one or more pharmaceutically inert excipients and, optionally, a non-therapeutically effective amount of one or more additional antiherpetic agents;
and wherein the administering is initiated when the patient has no symptoms of herpes labialis.