Method for nasal application of a medicinal substance

Abstract

A method for nasal application of a medicinal substance by applying the substance through the nose in a maximum amount that is insufficient to stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages. Within a time period of less than one hour, the application of the substance through the nose in an amount that is insufficient to stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages is repeated. The repeated application, at a minimum, is done a sufficient number of times to provide an effective total dose of the substance. The repeated application, in any case, is done at least once.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/877,605, filed Jun. 8, 2001, now abandoned.

This invention relates to delivery of a medical substance to a mammal and more particularly relates to nasal delivery of such a substance for absorption, reaction or other utilization.

Nasal administration of medical substances has had significant disadvantages. Dosages have been difficult to control due to excretory responses to administration, e.g. sneezing and mucosal excretion that removes or significantly reduces the substance from the nasal passages and sinuses. Another problem is that administered substances removed by an excretory response are often swallowed leading to nausea, stomach upset or other digestive disturbance. An even more serious problem is that if the excretory response is strong enough, the substance can be inhaled causing coughing or more serious pulmonary distress. An even further problem is that when a significant amount of the medical substance is removed by an excretory response, the material excreted is wasted material, thus increasing costs and inefficiencies associated with nasal administration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention a method is therefore provided for nasal application of a medicinal substance which overcomes the above disadvantages. In particular, the method comprises applying the substance through the nose in a maximum amount that is insufficient to stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages and within a time period of less than one hour, and repeating the application of the substance, through the nose in an amount that is insufficient to stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages. The repeated application, at a minimum, is done a sufficient number of times to provide an effective total dose of the substance. The repeated application, in any case, is done at least once.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

“Nasal application”, as used herein, means applied through the nose into the nasal or sinus passages or both. The application may, for example, be done by drops, sprays, mists, coatings or mixtures thereof applied to the nasal and sinus passages.

“Medicinal substance” means any substance capable of being effectively applied nasally. Such substance are usually in the form of liquids, but may also be vapors or fine solids. Such substances are either absorbed by the tissues and vessels in the nasal and sinus passages (nasally absorbable) or interact with the surface of such passages (nasally active). Such substances may for example include vaccines, antigens, epitopes, adjuvants, viral vectors, bacterial vectors, immune modulators, delivery vehicles, and other drugs such as antibiotics, antivirals, hormones, antibodies, anti-inflammatories, antipyretics, antispasmotics, sedatives, anesthetics, chemotherapeutic agents, analgesics, vasodialators, and vasoconstrictors.

When the medical substance is a vaccine it may for example be a vaccine for non-typeable haemophilus influenzae which may contain an epitope of P5, P6 or both P5 and P6 proteins of haemophilus influenzae . The vaccine may also for example be a vaccine against hepatitis B.

The maximum amount that is insufficient to stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the medicinal substance from the nasal and sinus passages is readily determined by observation and varies with the substance being applied, the surface area of the nasal passages and sinuses and with the size and species of animal. In the case of a mouse, the maximum amount is usually between about 2 and 10 μl and for a human is usually from about one to about three drops.

“Excretory response” means a response by the animal that tends to clear a significant portion of the medicinal substance from the nasal passages and sinuses. Such responses include increased secretions from the surfaces of the nasal passages and sinuses, and sneezing. Increased secretions may dilute the substance and can be removed from the nasal passages and sinuses by sneezing, blowing, dripping, coughing and swallowing.

“Significant portion” means that the effectiveness of the substance is substantially reduced (e.g. a reduction in effectiveness greater than 20 percent) due to excretion. A “significant portion” would normally be between 10 and 30 percent of the applied dose.

Repeated applications to obtain a maximum dose without stimulating an excretory response, for practical reasons related to the value of doctor and patient time, are usually completed within an hour and preferably less, e.g. one-half hour. The total number of doses within an hour is at least two but to obtain maximum effective dose, usually the number of doses is between 3 and about 20 and preferably between 4 and about 12 within an hour. Commonly, the number of applications is from 3 to about 15 applications within an hour. The time interval between doses is usually between about 30 seconds and about 15 minutes.

The method of the invention is applicable to essentially any mammal having easily accessible nasal passages and sinuses, e.g. mice, rats, chinchillas and other rodents, cats, monkeys, apes and humans. It has been found that position of certain mammals may increase effectiveness. For example, application is more effective in a prone chinchilla than a supine chinchilla and more effective in a supine mouse than a prone mouse. Nevertheless, the method of the invention using repeated doses, below the amount that stimulates a significant excretory response, is more effective than single doses when other variables are constant.

The following examples serve to illustrate but not limit the invention.

To show the distribution of liquid administered through the nose, Evans Blue Dye (0.3%) was administered through a micropipette tip into the nose of mice and chinchillas at various doses, at various levels of sedation or anesthesia, and with the animals in various positions.

The results clearly show that when a lower dose is used, more dye is retained in the nasal passages and sinuses and less dye is lost to the esophagus, stomach, intestines and lungs. The results further clearly show that when a series of low doses are used near the point at which the animal excretes the dye to the esophagus, stomach and intestines, more material can be retained in the nasal passages and sinus cavities than when a single larger dose is used. Further interesting results are that more dye is retained in the nasal passages and sinuses in the chinchilla, when the dye is administered in the prone position than when administered in the supine position but the converse is true for mice. Further, more dye is retained in the nasal passages and sinuses when administered to an alert chinchilla but again the converse is true for the mouse where an anesthetized state is preferred. In most cases, a divided dose permits more material to be retained in the nasal area.

The following table shows results for tests conducted with mice. Except as noted above, similar results occurred with tests conducted using chinchillas.

In the following tables “−” means that no dye is present, “traces” means that minimal amounts are present when examined with the unaided eye but that do not clearly show on photographs, “yes” and “+” mean dye is clearly visible, and “++” means heavy dye presence.

Table 1 shows the results for a control mouse treated with 10 μl of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and no dye.

Table 2 shows the results for dye administered in various concentrations in a single dose with heavy anesthesia.

Table 3 shows the results for dye administered in various concentrations in a single dose with moderate anesthesia.

Table 4 shows the results for dye administered in a supine position at various concentrations in a single dose with heavy anesthesia.

Table 5 shows the results for dye administered in various concentrations in a single dose to alert animals.

Table 6 shows the results for dye administered at 30 μl concentration in a single dose to alert animals.

Table 7 shows the results for dye administered dropwise at 30 μl and 50 μl concentrations under heavy and moderate anesthesia.

Table 8 shows the results for dye administered in 5 μl and 2 μl increments showing reduced dye in the stomach at lower incremental doses than larger incremental doses and less the same summed quantity supplied in a single dose. Table 3 shows the results for dye administered in various concentrations in a single dose with moderate anesthesia.

Table 9 shows optimal divided dose conditions for the mouse where essentially no dye reached the stomach and very little dye reached the esophagus.

TABLE 1

Control

Dye

Position

Position

Time

Esophagus

Trachea

Mouse

Vol-

At

Post

Anes-

To Sac-

Nose

Nasal

Oral

Upper/

Stom-

In-

Upper/

#

ume

Delivery

Delivery

thesia

rifice

Skin

Cavity

Cavity

Larynx

Lower

ach

testine

Lower

Lung

Notes

1

0 μl

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

−

−

−

−

−/−

−

−

−/−

−

Control

(10 μl

mouse;

of

10 μl of

PBS)

PBS

total.

TABLE 2
Dye Test, 200 μl of anesthesia (heavy)
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	After	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
2	10 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Traces/
				(heavy)						Traces
3	10 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
4	20 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
5	20 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
6	30 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
7	30 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
8	40 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
9	50 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
10	50 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	2	Traces	−	−/−	−	Dye did not travel
						far
	3	+	−	Traces/	−	Traces of dye were
				Traces		seen in the
						bronchial tubes and
						also appeared in the
						stomach
	4	+	−	−/−	−	Dye appeared in
						stomach
	5	+	−	−/−	−	Dye appeared in
						stomach
	6	+	−	Yes/Yes	+Left	Dye was present in
					Lung	the stomach and left
					only	lung
	7	−	−	Yes/Yes	+	Dye was throughout
						esophagus and
						stopped just before
						entering the
						stomach. Dye was
						mostly in the lungs
	8	+	Yes	Yes/Yes	+	There was a slight
					Right	presence of dye in
					Lung	the right lung and
						none in the left lung
	9	+	−	Yes/Yes	+	Dye was prominent
						in all examined
						areas except
						intestine
	10	+	−	Yes/Yes	++	See above

TABLE 3
Dye Test, 120 μl of anesthesia (moderate)
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
11	30 μl	Upright	Not held	120 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(Mod)
12	30 μl	Upright	Not held	120 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(Mod)
13	50 μl	Upright	Not held	120 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(Mod)
14	50 μl	Upright	Not held	120 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(Mod)
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	11	++	−	Yes/Yes	Traces	Traces of dye in the
						lungs, and heavy in
						the stomach
	12	+	−	Yes/Yes	Traces	Less presence of the
						dye in tbe stomach
						than #11
	13	++	−	Yes/Yes	Traces	Traces of dye in the
						lungs and heavy in
						the stomach
	14	++	Yes	Yes/	−	Traces seen in
				Traces		esophagus and
						trachea. Heavy in
						the stomach.

TABLE 4
Dye Test; Supine/Supine
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
15	10 μl	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	−	Yes	−/−
				(heavy)
16	20 μl	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Traces/−
				(heavy)
17	30 μl	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
18	30 μl	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
				(heavy)
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	15	−	−	−/−	−
	16	−	−	Traces/	−	Dark spot in
				Traces		lungs was blood
	17	+	−	Yes/Yes	−	Oral delivery
	18	−	−	Yes/Yes	−	Dye was present
						in the esophagus

TABLE 5
Varying Dye Volume; Alert Animals
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
19	10 μl	Upright	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	−	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
20	10 μl	Upright	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	−	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
21	30 μl	Upright	Not heid	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
22	30 μl	Upright	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
23	50 μl	Upright	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Traces/
										Traces
24	50 μl	Uprigbt	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	19	+	Yes	−/−	−	Relative to other
						mice this mouse did
						not struggle much
						during delivery into
						first nare but
						slightly struggled
						during delivery into
						second nare.
	20	Traces	Yes	−/−	−	See above.
	21	++	Yes	−/−	−	There was a great
						deal of gurgling and
						coughing of dye. A
						lot of dye appeared
						immediately in the
						mouth upon
						delivery.
	22	+	Yes	−/−	−	See above.
	23	++	Yes	−/−	−	Mouse sneezed and
						spit up dye into
						mouth from nasal
						cavity. It was very
						difficult to
						administer all 50 μl.
	24	+	Yes	−/−	Traces	See above. Dye
						was present in
						traces in bronchii.

TABLE 6
Prone Position During Administration; Alert Animals
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
25	30 μl	Prone	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	−	Yes	Traces	Traces	4−
26	30 μl	Prone	Not held	0 μl (Alert)	60 min	−	Yes	Traces	Traces	−/−
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	25	+	Yes	−/−	−	Dye almost
						completely moved
						into the intestine.
	26	++	Yes	−/−	−	Dye moved through
						tbe esophagus
						completely and was
						in the stomach.

TABLE 7
Drop−Wise Administration of Dye
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
27	30 μl	Upright	Not held	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	1			(heavy)
	drop/5
	sec
	interval
28	50 μl;	Upright	Not held	120 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	5 μl/			(Mod)
	nare at
	30 sec
	interval
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	27	+	−	−/−	−	Drops were released
						and inhaled slowly
						pausing for five
						seconds in between.
						All dye moved
						down esophagus
						and into stomach
	28	+	−	−/−	−	Drops were released
						and inhaled, slowly
						paused for 30
						seconds in between.
						All dye moved
						down esophagus
						into stomach.
						Animal was not
						fully asleep.

TABLE 8
20-40 μl of Dye, Divided Doses (different intervals),
200 μl of anesthesia (heavy*), Supine/Supine
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
29	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	−	Yes	Yes/Yes
	5 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	10 min
	interval
30	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	5 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	10 min
	interval
31	20 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	−	Yes	−/−
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	t = 0, 2,
	7, 9 and
	11 min
32	20 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	2 μl			(heavy)
	nare at
	2 min
	interval
33	20 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/−
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
34	40 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
35	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	2 μl/			(Mod*)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
36	30μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Yes
	2 μl/			(Mod*)
	nare
	at5 min
	interval
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	29	+	−	Yes/	+
				Yes
	30	+	−	Yes/	Traces
				Yes
	31	−	−	−/−	−	The 5 min interval
						between t = 2 and t = 7 min
						favored in maintenance
	32	+	−	−/−	−
	33	−	−	−/−	−
	34	+/+	−	−/−	−	Mouse started to wake
						after about 32 μl were
						administered.
	35	+	−	−/−	−	Mouse was NOT heavily
						anesthetized like others
						given the same amount of
						anesthesia. It began to wake
						and move after being given
						16 μl of dye.
	36	+	−	−/−	−	See above
	*Some mice, even when given 200 μl of Ketamine/Xylazine could not be considered heavily anesthetized because they behaved like moderately anesthetized animals.

TABLE 9
Optimal Conditions for Intranasal Delivery and Maintenance
		Position	Position							Esophagus
Mouse	Dye	At	Post	Anesthesia	Time To	Nose	Nasal	Oral		Upper/
#	Volume	Delivery	Delivery	Dose/Level	Sacrifice	Skin	Cavity	Cavity	Larynx	Lower
37	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	200 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Traces/−
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
38	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	400 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	−/−
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
39	30 μl;	Supine	Supine	350 μl	60 min	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Traces/−
	2 μl/			(heavy)
	nare at
	5 min
	interval
				Trachea
	Mouse			Upper/
	#	Stomach	Intestine	Lower	Lung	Notes
	37	−	−	−/−	−	A small isolated
						patch was found
						halfway down
						esophagus. No dye
						was in stomach,
						trachea or lungs.
						The dark spots on
						the lungs are blood
						clots.
	38	−	−	−/−	−	Animal needed
						additional anesthetic
						during dye
						administration in
						order to stay heavily
						anesthetized until
						dye was completely
						administered.
	39	−	−	Traces/−	−	Animal needed
						additional anesthetic
						during dye
						administration in
						order to stay heavily
						anesthetizced until
						dye was completely
						administered.

Claims

1. A method for nasal application of a medicinal substance which comprises applying the substance through the nose in a maximum amount that is insufficient to immediately stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages and within a time period of less than one hour, repeating the application of the substance, through the nose in a maximum amount that is insufficient to immediately stimulate an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages, at least once and at a minimum a sufficient number of times to provide an effective total dose of the substance.

2. The method of claim 1 where the application is repeated a sufficient number of times within the hour to maximize the total dose without stimulating an excretory response that would clear a significant portion of the substance from nasal and sinus passages.

3. The method of claim 1 where the substance is a nasally absorbable medicine.

4. The method of claim 1 where the substance is a nasally active medicine.

5. The method of claim 1 where the substance is selected from the group consisting of vaccines, antigens, epitopes, adjuvants, viral vectors, bacterial vectors, immune modulators, delivery vehicles, and drugs including antibiotics, hormones, antibodies, anti-inflammatories, antipyretics, antispasmotics, anesthetics, chemotherapeutic agents, sedatives, analgesics, vasodialators, and vasoconstrictors.

6. The method of claim 1 where the number of applications is from 3 to about 15 applications within the hour.

7. The method of claim 1 where the mammal is a supine mouse.

8. The method of claim 1 where the mammal is a prone chinchilla.

9. The method of claim 1 where the mammal is a human.

10. The method of claim 1 where the medical substance is a vaccine.

11. The method of claim 10 where the vaccine is a vaccine for non-typeable haemophilus influenzae.

12. The method of claim 11 where the vaccine contains an epitope of P6 protein of haemophilus influenzae.

13. The method of claim 11 where the vaccine contains an epitope of P5 protein of haemophilus influenzae.

14. The method of claim 11 where the vaccine is a vaccine against hepatitis B.