ACNE TREATMENT

Abstract: A new treatment for acne has been developed. The treatment consists of a topical pharmaceutical formulation containing a biocide, one or more fatty acids and an aliphatic alcohol. Pharmaceutical preparations and a method of treatment are described in the present application.

Description: The present invention resides in a new bacteriacidal composition which is particularly applicable for use in treatment of acne. Acne is caused by bacterial infection. In the past, treatment of acne has normally comprised the external application of solutions, lotions or creams containing benzoyl peroxide or such phenolics as resorcinol. Although such treatment may be effective in some instances, the high proportion of instances where external treatment has been largely ineffective has led to the development of internal treatments, administration of which is liable to cause serious side-effects and is therefore highly undesirable except in very extreme cases. Consequently, it has long been recognised that development of new methods of treating acne is highly desirable. US-A-3535422 is concerned with providing storage stable compositions for the treatment of acne which contain benzoyl peroxide. This document describes compositions containing benzoyl peroxide, water and an organic emollient which may be a saturated aliphatic alcohol, a glycol, a saturated fatty acid, a lower alkyl or glyceryl ester of a fatty acid or a mixture thereof. The compositions are dermally applied in the form of creams or ointments. It has been found that one of the main reasons for the ineffectiveness of the known solutions, lotions and creams is that the active constituents do not reach the appropriate dermal site where treatment is required. Solutions tend to evaporate before penetrating the epidermis, and lotions and creams are generally too viscous to allow penetration of the epidermis. The present invention ameliorates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. According to the present invention, there is provided a bactericidal composition for use in the external treatment of acne, said composition comprising: (a) a biocide effective in killing acne bacteria; (b) a fatty acid; (c) a quick breaking foaming agent comprising an aliphatic alcohol, water, a fatty alcohol and a surface active agent; and (d) an aerosol propellant. Such compositions are of low viscosity and are therefore capable of rapid penetration of the epidermis. Preferred biocides are chosen from the group consisting of parachlorometraxylenol (PCMX), benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, sulphur and salicylic acid or mixtures thereof. The preferred fatty acids in the composition of the present invention are linoleic and/or linolenic acid although mixtures with other fatty acids of this type are also suitable. Linoleic and/or linolenic acid is preferably present in an amount of 0.5 - 5%w/w, more preferably of 0.82 - 1.25%w/w composition. The structure of the composition is improved relative to conventional compositions as it is capable of forming a quick breaking form, thus reducing the amount of evaporation on application but at the same time allowing rapid penetration of the epidermis. Quick breaking foams minimise early evaporation as they are applied to the skin surface as a thick foam which rapidly disintegrates when spread. One preferred composition which forms a quick breaking foam comprises biocide, linoleic and/or linolenic acid, the quick breaking foam agent and an aerosol propellant. Preferably a corrosion inhibitor is also included if the composition is to be stored in metal containers. However, this is not necessary if the container is of non-metal such as glass or plastic. The biocide is preferably in the composition in an amount between 0.05 and 1% w/w composition. Most preferably the amount is approximately 0.2%w/w. Quick breaking foaming agents for producing quick breaking foams are well known. A general discussion may be found in Australian Patent AU-A-463216. The quick breaking foaming agent in the composition of the present invention comprises an aliphatic alcohol, water, a fatty alcohol and a surface active agent. Preferably, the aliphatic alcohol is aqueous ethanol. The quick break foaming agent comprises: (a) An aliphatic alcohol preferably in amounts from 40-90%w/w composition, more preferably 55-70%w/w and most preferably 60%w/w; (b) Water preferably in amounts from 10-40%w/w; (c) A fatty alcohol, preferably in amounts from 0.5-10%w/w; and (d) A surface active agent preferably an ethoxylated sorbitan ester (as emulsifier) typically in amounts from 0.1-15% w/w. Aerosol propellants for use in the compositions of the present invention should be carefully selected for their compatability with the entire composition. The most preferred propellants may be selected from the group comprising propane, butane, dichloro difluoro methane, dichloro tetra fluoro ethane, and octafluoro cyclo butane. The propellant is preferably present in amounts from 3 to 30% w/w, more preferably from 5-15%w/w and most preferably 8 to 10% w/w. Preferred corrosion inhibitors for use in the present invention include organic acid salts such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. The preferred amount of corrosion inhibitor is 0.1 to 15%w/w, more preferably 0.1 to 3%w/w. The invention will now be more fully described by way of the following examples. Example 1 . The following formulation is a general formulation which may be used as a basis for more specific formulations thus enabling variation as required for particular circumstances. %w/w PROPELLANT e.g. propane, butane, dichloro difluoro methane, dichloro tetra fluoro ethane, octafluoro cyclo butane and mixtures thereof 3-30 BIOCIDE e.g. parachlorometaxylenol, Benzoyl Peroxide, Triclosan, Sulphur, Salicylic Acid and mixtures thereof 0.05-10 FATTY ACID e.g. linoleic and/or linolenic acid 0.5-5 FATTY ALCOHOL e.g. cetyl, stearyl, lauryl, myristyl, palmityl, and mixtures thereof 0.5-10 ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL e.g. methyl, ethyl isopropyl, butyl and mixtures thereof 40-90 WATER 10-40 POLYOL e.g. glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and low molecular weight polymers thereof 1-10 ORGANIC ACID SALT e.g. sorbic acid, benzoic acid 0.1-15 SURFACE ACTIVE AGENT e.g. ethoxylated sorbitan stearate, palmitate, oleate, nonyl phenol ethoxylates, fatty alcohol ethoxylates. 0.1-15 The following examples are particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention. Example 2 . %w/w cetostearyl alcohol B.P. 1.60 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate N.F. 0.40 ethanol 95% U.S.P. 52.50 polyunsaturated fatty acid 1.85 purified water B.P. 30.90 sodium hydroxide B.P 0.25 parachlorometaxylenol 0.20 sodium benzoate B.P. 1.20 propylene glycol B.P. 2.00 fragrance 0.10 F12/114 (40:60) B.P. 9.00 100.00 Example 3 . Example 4 . %w/w Parachlorometaxylenol 0.18 linolenic acid 0.82 myristyl alcohol 3.00 ethoxylated octylalcohol 0.80 glycerol 2.5 isopropyl alcohol 60.0 potassium sorbate 0.3 purified water 25.4 butane propane 7.0 100.00 Example 5 . Example 6 . %w/w cetostearyl alcohol B.P. 1.60 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate N.F. 0.40 ethanol 95% U.S.P. 52.50 polyunsaturated fatty acid 1.85 purified water B.P. 30.90 sodium hydroxide B.P 0.25 salicylic acid 0.20 sodium benzoate B.P. 1.20 propylene glycol B.P. 2.00 fragrance 0.10 F12/114 (40:60) B.P. 9.00 100.00 Example 7 . Example 8 . %w/w Triclosan 0.18 linolenic acid 0.82 myristyl alcohol 3.00 ethoxylated octylalcohol 0.80 glycerol 2.50 isopropyl alcohol 60.00 potassium sorbate 0.30 purified water 25.40 butane propane 7.00 100.00 Example 9 . Example 10 . Example 11 . %w/w cetostearyl alcohol B.P. 1.60 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate N.F. 0.40 ethanol 95% U.S.P. 53.75 polyunsaturated fatty acid 1.85 purified water B.P. 34.65 sodium hydroxide B.P. 0.25 parachlorometaxylenol 0.20 sodium benzoate B.P. 1.20 propylene glycol B.P. 2.00 fragrance 0.10 propane/butane 4.00 100.00 Example 12 . %w/w cetostearyl alcohol B.P. 2.10 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate N.F. 0.40 ethanol 95% U.S.P. 53.40 polyunsaturated fatty acid 1.85 purified water B.P. 34.50 sodium hydroxide B.P. 0.25 parachlorometaxylenol 0.20 sodium benzoate B.P. 1.20 propylene glycol B.P. 2.00 fragance 0.10 propane/butane 4.00 100.00

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE A bactericidal composition for use in the external treatment of acne, said composition comprising: (a) a biocide effective in killing acne bacteria; (b) a fatty acid; (c) a quick breaking foaming agent comprising an aliphatic alcohol, water, a fatty alcohol and a surface active agent; and (d) an aerosol propellant. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the agent comprises from 40 to 90%w/w of the aliphatic alcohol, from 10% to 40%w/w of water, from 0.5 to 10%w/w of the fatty alcohol and from 0.1 to 15%w/w of the surface active agent. A composition according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the biocide is selected from parachlorometaxylenol, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, sulphur, salicylic acid, or mixtures thereof. A composition according to any one of the present claims, wherein the fatty acid is selected from linoleic acid, linolenic acid, or a mixture thereof. A composition according to any one of the present claims, wherein the aliphatic alcohol is aqueous ethanol. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is in the form of a quick breaking foam. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising from 0.05 to 10%w/w of a biocide selected from parachlorometaxylenol, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, sulphur, salicylic acid or mixtures thereof, from 0.5 to 5.0%w/w of linoleic and/or linolenic acid, from 24.0 to 95.25%w/w of said quick breaking foaming agent, and from 3 to 30%w/w of an aerosol propellant. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises a corrosion inhibitor. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biocide is present in an amount of approximately 0.2%w/w. A composition according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the linoleic and/or linolenic acid is present in an amount between 0.8 and 1.25%w/w. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the external treatment of acne. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR A process for the preparation of a bactericidal composition for use in the external treatment of acne, which process comprises admixing: (a) a biocide effective in killing acne bacteria; (b) a fatty acid; (c) a quick breaking foaming agent comprising an aliphatic alcohol, water, a fatty alcohol and a surface active agent; and (d) an aerosol propellant. A process according to claim 1, wherein the quick breaking foaming agent comprises from 40 to 90%w/w of the aliphatic alcohol, from 10 to 40%w/w of water, from 0.5 to 10%w/w of the fatty alcohol and from 0.1 to 15%w/w of the surface active agent. A process according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the biocide is selected from parachlorometaxylenol, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, sulphur, salicylic acid, or mixtures thereof. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fatty acid is selected from linoleic acid, linolenic acid, or a mixture thereof. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aliphatic alcohol is aqueous ethanol. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is formed into a quick breaking foam. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition comprises from 0.05 to 10%w/w of a biocide selected from parachlorometaxylenol, benzoyl peroxide, triclosan, sulphur, salicylic acid or mixtures thereof, from 0.5 to 5.0%w/w of linoleic and/or linolenic acid, from 24.0 to 95.25%w/w of said quick breaking foaming agent, and from 3 to 30%w/w of an aerosol propellant. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, which further comprises admixing a corrosion inhibitor. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the biocide is present in an amount of approximately 0.2%w/w. A process according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the linoleic and/or linolenic acid is present in an amount between 0.8 and 1.25%w/w.

Inventors: TOMLINSON, RODERICK PETER
Applicants: PARKE DAVIS PTY. LTD., SOLTEC RESEARCH PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61K45, A61K47, A61K33, A61P17, A61Q19, A61K31, A61P43