NEW USE OF QUINOLINE-3-CARBOXAMIDE COMPOUNDS

Abstract: The use of an anti-psoriasis quinoline-3-carboxamide compound comprising the structure (I) above, optionally with substituents for the hydrogen atoms shown (H<1-9>), or a pharmacologically acceptable salt of said compound, where (a) -------- represents that there are two conjugated double bonds between the atoms comprised by the dashed line, (b) X1 and X2 are separately selected from an oxygen atom or an NH<9> group, said X1 and X2 being bound by a single bond to the ring when attached to H<7> or H<8> and by a double bond when not bound to H<7> or H<8>, (c) H<1-9> are hydrogens with the provision that H<9> is only present when at least one of X1 and X2 is the NH<9> group, (d) H<7> and H<8> are hydrogens that are attached to different atoms selected among X1, X2 and the nitrogen atom (N) in the quinoline ring, for the manufacture of a composition intended for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis. Also described are methods for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis in which methods the above compounds are administered to a living body. Particularly preferred compounds are N-phenyl-N-methyl-1,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide or a salt thereof.

Description: NEW USE OF QUINOLINE-3-CARBOXAMIDE COMPOUNDS The present invention concerns the use of quinolιne-3-carboxamide compounds, in particular roquinimex (Linomide ® ), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis. Background of the invention Psoriasis is a common disease which affects about 2 % of the population of Scandinavia. Hereditary factors are important. If one parent has psoriasis, the risk for the child is 25% and if both parents have psoriasis there is a risk of 60 - 70%. Drugs thought to precipitate or worsen psoriasis include alcohol and, in some patients, β-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Psoriasis is characterised by thickened, erythematous, well- demarcated areas of skin covered by silvery scales. The extent of involvement ranges from isolated, small lesions to the whole body surface. Nails are involved in up to 50 % of psoriasis patients. Because of the heterogenic nature of psoriasis, other papulosquamous dermatoses may need to be considered in the differential diagnosis. There are several clinical forms of psoriasis and it can change qualitatively from stable plaque lesions to an unstable form typified by eruptive inflammatory lesions. Psoriatic arthritis is defined as "psoriasis (of skin or nails) associated with inflammatory arthritis (peripheral and/or spinal) and usually a negative seroiogical test for rhematoid factor". The incidence of arthritis in the psoriatic population is about 7 %. The clinical features of psoriatic arthritis are: (1 ) distal arthitis - an asymmetrical arthritis involving the terminalinterphalangeal joints of the hands and interphalangeal joints of the toes; there is invariably nail involvement; (2) artrophathy indistinguishable from rheumatoid arthritis, although milder; (3) a severe deforming type of arthristis (psoriatic arthritis mutilans), producing osteolysis of the hands and feet, usually associated with severe inflammatory forms of psoriasis; (4) an ankylosing spondylopathy; and (5) a mono-arthritis or oligo-arthritis. Psoriasis is not a static disease: seasonal fluctuations, spontaneous remissions, and physical and emotional well-being all affects the disease SUBSTITUTE SHEET and hence its management. Most patients with localised, plaque-type psoriasis are able to controll their disease at home with topical therapy with corticosteroid creams and ointments. For the more widespread forms, some form of phototherapy, either alone or combined with topical therapy, is usually needed. In resistant psoriasis, photochemotherapy or systemic therapy may be indicated. Methotrexate is indicated only for recalcitrant psoriasis, unresponsive to topical therapy. The main side effects are acute marrow suppression and a long term risk of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis which is related to cumulative life time dosage and regimen employed. Retinoid is a generic name that includes naturally occuring compounds with vitamin A activity and any synthetic analogues of retinol. As with methotrexate, retonoid therapy is restricted to severe, recalcitrant psoriasis. It is especially valuable for initial treatment of the severe, inflammatory forms of the disease, that is erythrodermic or postular psoriasis, producing a more rapid response than methotrexate. Cyklosporin is effective for severe psoriasis, and providing that guidelines for treatment are observed it also seems safe when used over periods of up to a year. However, as the long term safety af cyklosporin in patients with psoriasis is still to be established it is not the drug of choice for the patient likely to be require continous treatment for many years. The main side effects are hypertension and renal impairment, both of which are reversible if guideines for treatment are followed. In other clinical conditions, such as immunosuppression after transplantation, the incidence of lymphoma is increased in people receiving cyklosporin long term. Quinoline-3-carboxamide compounds have been suggested as phar¬ maceuticals. The compounds have comprised the structure given in formula I below, optionally with substituents for the hydrogen atoms shown (H 1"9 , where H 9 is part of X, or X 2 as shown in (b) below) and, where appropriate, salts of the compounds. UBSTm m= SHEET This formula is a collective formula for the tautomeric structures ll-IV. ( ID ( III ) ( IV) In formula l-IV: (a) represents that there are two conjugated double bonds between the atoms comprised by the dashed line (only formula I). (b) X 1 and X 2 are separately selected from an oxygen atom or an NH 9 group that possibly is substituted, said X, and X 2 being bound by a SUBSTITUTE SHEET single bond to the ring when attached to H 7 or H 8 and by a double bond when not bound to H 7 or H 8 . (c) H 1"9 are hydrogens, with the provision that H 9 is only present when at least one of X. and X 2 is the NH 9 group. (d) H 7 and H 8 are hydrogens that are attached to different atoms selec¬ ted among X.,, X 2 and the nitrogen atom in the quinoline ring said X, and X 2 being bound by a single bond to the ring when attached to H 7 or H 8 and by a double bond when not bound to H 7 or H 8 . The substituents that are to replace H 1"9 may, according to the prior art, comprise any substituent that gives compounds that can be isolated. See for instance Indian Journal of Chemistry Vol 17B (1979) 488-90 (anti- inflammatory properties), US 3,960,868 (=GB 1,467,061 , analgesic, anticon- ceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties), US 4,547,511 and 4,738,971 (enhancing cell-mediated immunity), WO 9015052 (= U.S. S.N. 651,234, filed May 31 , 1990) (immunomodulator), US 4,107,310 (analgetics) and JP 68023948 (bacteriocides). Patents and patent applications given above are hereby incorporated by reference. In general it can be stated that many of the compounds comprising structure I are classified as immune modulators with individual effects spanning the spectra from suppression to stimulation of the immune system. The specific effect achieved depends on the substituents. One of the most important compounds with formula I are the 1,2- dihydro-hydroquinoline-3-carboxamides, particularly N-phenyl-N-methyl-1 ,2- dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide (roquinimex, trade mark Linomide ® ), i.e. structures I and II with a substituent for H 1 that equals phenyl, for H 2 that equals methyl, for H 8 that equals methyl (attached to the nitrogen atom of the quinoline ring), with no substituents for H 3"7 , with H 7 attached to X 1 ( and with each of X., and X 2 equaling an oxygen atom. . The compound has double bonds between positions 3 and 4 and between position 2 and X 2 . The scientific experimentation with roquinimex has shown that roquinimex has multiple immunological activities. It has thus been found that roquinimex increases the proliferative response to T and B cell mito- SUBSTITUTE SHEET gens [28], enhances antibody production [29] and augments NK cell activity [30, 31]. Moreover, its immunostimulating and immunoregulating properties may be useful in the treatment of tumors [32] and systemic lupus erythe- matosis [33, 34] as suggested in US Patents 4,547,511 and 4,738,971. Published PCT-application WO 91/12804 discloses roquinimex as a drug for the treatment of retrovirus infections. WO 91/14432 discloses roqui¬ nimex as a drug for regenerating lymphoid cells in patients treated with autologous bone marrow transplantation. WO 93/06829 discloses roquini¬ mex as a drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. These published patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference. Quinoline-3-carboxamide compounds according to the present invention are hitherto not known for treating psoriasis. JP 4041425 (TANABE SEIYAKU CO) discloses 5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors containing 4- aminophenol derivatives or salts thereof which are claimed as remedies for i.a. psoriasis. One such derivative is the amide of the 4-aminophenol derivative of 3-quinoline carboxylic acid. This 3-quinoline carboxylic acid moiety anyhow completely lacks the characteristic substitution pattern which is essential for the compounds of the present invention. Summary of the invention According to the present invention it has now surprisingly been shown that treatment with quinoline-3-carboxamide compounds, in particular roquinimex (Linomide ® ), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis. Cyklosporin A which is a potent immune suppressor interfering with T cell reponse has shown to be effective in treating severe psoriasis. Roquini¬ mex completely abolishes the immunosupressive effect of Cyklosporin in a heart allograft model. Roquinimex may be used as such or as a pharmaceutically accep¬ table salt thereof. Furthermore, roquinimex can be used in combination with other agents. Formulations that could be used according to the present invention are disclosed in US patent No. 4,547,511 col. 11. SUBSTITUTE 3HEET Objectives of the invention One major objective of the invention is to provide a method for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis with quinoline-3- carboxamide compounds, in particular roquinimex (Linomide ® ), or a pharma- cologically acceptable salt thereof. Further objectives are to provide drugs to be used for the manufac¬ ture of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of the conditions given in the preceding sentence. Other objectives of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art, and still other objectives will become apparent hereinafter. Patient studies Two patients with psoriasis have so far been subjected to long term treatement with roquinimex. The patients had advanced renal cell carcinoma and were treated with roquinimex in a phase ll-study (CTN: T89OL01) with a dose of 15 mg twice weekly. Example 1 Patient No.10 : His psoriasis engaged knees, capitillum, nails, eye lashes, hands and elbows. After six months of treatment with roquinimex he was completely recovered from his psoriasis. The patient was treated for a total of seventeen months. He received a partial remission of his renal cell carcinoma after seven months of treatment with a response duration of fifteen months. Six months after treatment withdrawal his psoriasis re¬ appeared, although to lesser extent than before. Example 2 Patient No. 15: His psoriasis improved during treatment with roqui¬ nimex and he was completely recovered after seventeen months. His renal cancer stabilized during treatment and the treatment was terminated after two years due to progressive disease. None of the patients had any other concomitant therapy for their psoriasis. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims: CLAIMS 1. The use of an anti-psoriasis quinoline-3-carboxamide compound comprising structure I, optionally with substituents for the hydrogen atoms shown (H 1"9 ), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound where (a) represents that there are two conjugated double bonds between the atoms comprised by the dashed line, (b) X, and X 2 are separately selected from an oxygen atom or an NH 9 group, said X, and X 2 being bound by a single bond to the ring when attached to H 7 or H 8 and by a double bond when not bound to H 7 or H 8 , (c) H 1"9 are hydrogens, with the provision that H 9 is only present when at least one of X, and X 2 is the NH 9 group, (d) H 7 and H 8 are hydrogens that are attached to different atoms selected among X„ X 2 and the nitrogen atom in the quinoline ring, for the manufacture of a composition intended for treating psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis. The use of an anti-psoriasis compound according to claim ^ c h a ¬ r a c t e r i z e d in that the compound is N-phenyl-N-methyl-1,2- dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carboxamide. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Method for treating psoriais or conditions associated with psoriasis by administration of an effective amount of an anti-psoriasis quinoline-3- carboxamide compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof to a living body suffering from or being at risk for acquiring psoriasis or conditions associated with psoriasis , whereby said com¬ pound comprises the structure I, optionally with substituents for the hydrogen atoms shown (H 1"9 ) where (a) represents that there are two conjugated double bonds bonds between the atoms comprised by the dashed line, (b) X, and X 2 are separately selected from an oxygen atom or an NH 9 group, said X n and X 2 being bound by a single bond to the ring when attached to H 7 or H 8 and by a double bond when not bound to H 7 or H 8 , (c) H 1*9 are hydrogens, with the provision that H 9 is only present when at least one of X, and X 2 is NH 9 group, (d) H 7 and H 8 are hydrogens that are attached to different atoms selected among X X 2 and the nitrogen atom (N) in the quino¬ line ring. Method according to claim 3 wherein the compound is N-phenyl-N- methyl-1 ,2-dihydro-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoline-3-carbox- amide. SUBSTITUTE SHEET 5. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the administration is oral. 6. Method according to anyone of the claims 1 - 4 wherein the admini- stration is by injection. 7. Method according to anyone of the claims 1 - 4 wherein the admini¬ stration is parenteral. 8. Method according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the effective amount is from about 0,01 to about 10 mg/kg body weight, preferably from about 0,05 to about 1 mg/kg body weight, whereby said dose is administered from once daily to once a fortnight. SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: GJOERSTRUP PER, NILSSON BO, SVEDBERG AGNETA, GJOERSTRUP, PER, NILSSON, BO, SVEDBERG, AGNETA
Applicants: GJOERSTRUP PER, NILSSON BO, PHARMACIA AB, SVEDBERG AGNETA, GJOERSTRUP, PER, NILSSON, BO, SVEDBERG, AGNETA
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31, A61P17, C07D213, C07D215