AGENT FOR TREATING NEURO-DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Abstract: Hydrogenated pyrido(4,3-b)indoles of general formula (I) in which R 1 , R 2 and R 3 have the meanings indicated in the description and have the properties of NMDA-antagonists and are suitable for use in treating neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to the use of chemical compounds in medicine, more specifically, to the use of the compounds selected from hydrogenated pyrido[4,3-b]indoles for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), due to the discovery of new properties intrinsic to these compounds. THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Alzheimer's disease is currently one of the severest and widely spread neurodegenerative diseases. The most traditional approach to the treatment of this disease is compensatory therapy based on the compensation of the cholinergic system functions which are reduced in Alzheimer's disease. One of the therapeutic agents used in the alleged method of treatment is tacrine hydrochloride (hereinafter referred to as tacrine) which is 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine hydrochloride represented by the formula (A): The mechanism of action of the said agent involves inhibiting choline esterase (Volger B.W. "Alternatives in the treatment of memory loss in patient with Alzheimer's disease. (Clinical Pharmacy. 1991 June 10 (6): 447 - 56). As for the choline esterase inhibiting activity, tacrine is an analogue of the world famous physostigmine and is a traditional anticholine esterase agent However, the treatment with tacrine is not always effective. Besides, tacrine tends to cause undesirable side-effects. A wide range of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington chorea, amiotrophic lateral sclerosis as well as brain ischemia are known to be associated with an excitotoxic effect of neuromediatory excitatory amino acids (EAA) such as glutamate and aspartate (Excitatory Amino Acids and Drug Research, Ed. by M.R. Szewczak N.I. Hrib Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, 1989, p.380; The NMDA Receptor. Eds. Watkins & Collingridge G., 1989, IRL Press). In accordance with this mechanism, hyperexcitation of neurones in prolonged activation of their N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors with glutamate results in an excessive entry of potassium ions into the cell which initiates a number of pathological metabolic processes finally causing the death of nerve cells (Mattson, Neurone, 1990, v.2, p.105. Mill S. Kater, Neuron, 1990, v.2, p.149; Saitch et al, Lab Suvest. 1991, v.64, p.596). More specifically in Alzheimer's disease, death of numerous neurones is believed to occur as follows. An endogenic oligopeptide, such as β-amyloid, is a neurotoxic factor inducing neurodegenerative processes in the neurones. β-Amyloid is present in the neurotic plaques abundantly located on the surface of the brain of the patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (Prelli et al., - J.Neurochem., 1988, v.51, p.648; Yanuer et al., - Science, 1990, v.250, p.279). As shown by the investigations of recent years, β-amyloid significantly enhances the excitotoxic effect of glutamate which is effected through the NMDA-receptor system (Koh et al., Brain Res., 1990, v.533, p.315; Mattson et al., - J. Neurosci., 1992, v. 12, p.376). As a result, the glutamate mediator concentrations nontoxic under normal conditions become toxic for neurones under conditions of the developing β-amyloid dose and cause their death. In this connection, the search for effective antagonists of the brain NMDA-receptors capable of preventing the realization of the neurotoxic effect of EAA appears to be an original and promising approach to creation of neuroprotectors of a wide spectrum of activity including agents which can prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease and be useful for treatment of such diseases as Alzheimer's disease (Maragos W.F. et al., Trends Neurosci.,1987, No. 10, p.65). A well known NMDA receptor antagonist is 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) (Evans et al., Brit. J. Pharmacol., 1982, v.75, p.65). The main disadvantage of AP5 compound a side neurotoxic effect (such as the disturbance of coordination of movement, a sedative effect) which becomes apparent when the said compound is used in the doses in which it produces anti-NMDA effect (ED 50 = 190 mg/kg) (Grigoriev et al. Chim. Pharm. Journal, 1988, No.3, p. 275-277). An intensive search for and trials of the agents having the anti-NMDA properties is currently under way for treatment of said disease. However, such agents are actually not available in clinics thus far. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide compounds having a high anti-NMDA activity and producing no side- and toxic effects. As one of the approaches is the search for such agents the inventors have tried to reveal new unexpected (in this case, anti-NMDA) properties in the known chemical compounds which are not due to the chemical structure of the compounds. The inventors have carried out large-scale investigations of some known compounds which are tetra - and hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivatives manifesting a wide spectrum of biological activity. In the series of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles the following types of activity were found: antihistamine activity (OS-DE NN 1.813 229, December 6, 1968; 1.952.80, October 20, 1969), central depressive and antiinflammatory activity (USP No.3 718.657 December 13, 1970), neuroleptic activity (Herbert C.A., Plattner S.S., Wehch W.N. - Mol.Pharm. 1980, v.17, N I, p.38-42) and others. 2,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivatives show psychotropic (Welch W.H., Herbert C.A, Weissman A, Koc K.B. J.Med.Chem., 1986, vol.29, No. 10, p.2093-2099), antiaggressive, antiarrhythmic and other types of activity. Several drugs such as diazoline (mebhydroline), dimebon, dorastine, carbidine(dicarbine), stobadine, hevotroline based on tetra- and hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivatives arc being manufactured. Diazoline(2-methyl-5-benzyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole dihydrochloride) (Klyuev M.A., Drugs, used in "Medical Pract.", USSR, Moscow, "Meditzina" Publishers, 1991, p.512) and dimebon (2,8-dimethyl-5-(2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl-2,3,4,5- tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole dihydrochloride) (M.D. Mashkovsky, "Medicinal Drugs" in 2 voL Vol. 1 - 12th Edition, Moscow, "Meditzina" Publishers, 1993, p.383) as well as its closest analogue dorastine(2-methyl-8-chloro-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole dihydrochloride) (USAN and USP dictionary of drugs names (United States Adopted Names, 1961-1988, current US Pharmacopeia and National Formular for Drugs and other nonproprietary drug names), 1989, 26th Edition., p.196) are known as antihistamine drugs; carbidine (dicarbine) (cis(±)-2,8-dimethyl-2,3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole dihydrochloride) is a national neuroleptic agent having an antidepressive effect (L.N. Yakhontov, R. G. Glushkov, Synthetic Drugs, ed. by A.G. Natradze, Moscow, "Meditzina" Publishers, 1983, p.234-237), and its (-)isomer, stobadine, is known as an antiarrythmic agent (Kitlova M., Gibela P., Drimal J., Bratisl. Lek.Listy, 1985, vol.84, No.5, p.542-549); hevotroline (8-fluoro-2)(3-(3-pyridyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole dihydrochloride) is an antipsychotic and anxiolytic agent (Abou - Gharbi M., Patel U.R., Webb M.B., Moyer J.A., Ardnee T.H., J. Med. Chem., 1987, vol.30, p.1818-1823). However no NMDA receptor antagonists have been found so far among tetra- and hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivatives. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The inventors have quite unexpectedly found that such properties are endowed for hydrogenated pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivatives. It has been found in particular, that a number of known hydrogenated pyrido[3,4-b]indole derivatives has NMDA antagonist properties, which makes them useful for treating neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly the present invention relates to the use of a hydrogenated pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivative of formula (I); wherein either; the line ----- represents a single bond and R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H and R 3 represents Me, and the compound is in the form of a cis (±) isomer; or the line ----- represents a double bond and (i) R 1 represents Et or PhCH 2 , and R 2 and R 3 represent H, (ii) R 1 and R 3 represent Me, and R 2 represents PhCH 2 , (iii) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 , and R 3 represents H, (iv) R 1 and R 3 represent Me, and R 2 represents 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 , (v) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H, and R 3 represents H or Me, (vi) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H, and R 3 represents Br, and salts thereof with pharmacologically acceptable acids and quaternary derivatives, in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. All the above compounds are known from the art and comprise the following specific compounds: 1. 2-methyl-2,3,4.5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole; 2. 2,8-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its methyliodide; 3. cis(±) 2,8-dimethyl-2,3,4.4a,5,9b-hexadydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its dihydrochloride; 4. 2-methyl-8-bromo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its hydrochloride; 5. 2-ethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole; 6. 2-benzyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole; 7. 2,8-dimethyl-5-benzyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its hydrochloride; 8. 2-methyl-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its sesquisulfate monohydrate; 9. 2,8-dimethyl-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and its dihydrochloride. The information of the compounds listed above can be obtained from the publications referred to below. The synthesis of the compound No. 1 is described by U.Horlein in Chem. Ber., 1954, Bd.87, hft 4, p. 463-472. The preparation of the compounds No. 2, 4 and 5 and the information that the properties of serotonine antagonists are disclosed by C.J. Cattanach, A. Cohen and B.H. Brown in J. Chem. Soc. (ser. C) 1968, 1235-1243. The preparation of methyliodide of the compound No. 2 is described by M.A. Yurovskaya and I.L. Rodionov in Khim. Geterots. Soed., 1981, No. 8, p. 1072-1078.The data on the preparation and the neuroleptic properties of the compound No. 3can be found in the publication by L.N. Yakhontov and R.G. Glushkova Synthetic Drugs (edited by A.G. Natradze), Moscow, "Meditsina Publishers", 1983, p. 234-237. The synthesis of the compound No. 6 is described int he article by N.P. Buu-Hoi, O. Roussel, P. Jacquignon, J. Chem. Soc., 1964, No. 2, p. 708-711. The synthasis of the compound No. 7 is described by N.F. Kucherova and N.K. Kochetkov in J. Obshch. Khim., 1956, v. 26, p. 3149-3154, and the preparation of the compounds No. 8 and 9 is reported by A.N. Kost, M.A. Yurovskaya and T.M. Mrlnikova in "Khim. Geterots. Soed", 1973, No. 2. p. 207-212. The fact that the compounds of the formula (I) exhibit anti-NMDA activity is confirmed by the results of the biological experiment that was carried out. THE PROCEDURE OF THE EXPERIMENT The experiment was conducted in white non-inbred male mice of 20 - 24 g weight. A solution of the test agent in 0.2 ml of 5% aqueous dimethylsulfoxide was injected intraperitoneally 40 minutes before the injection of NMDA into the lateral vehicle of the brain. Mice had been prepared beforehand for the experiment: a skin flap on the head was removed under ether anestesia and a hole was bored in the skull by a fine drill. 0.1 µg of NMDA in a volume of 1.4 µl was injected with a microsyringe. The microsyringe needle was immersed to a depth of 2.5 mm. After the operation, the wound was treated with a 2% novocaine solution. After recovery from the anestesia, the mice showed signs of pain disturbance. The accuracy of NMDA injection was monitored by injection of methylene blue. Two to 4 hours after the operation, the mice were used for a pharmacological experiment. The animals inoculated with a saline solution were used as control. In the control group the injection of NMDA into the lateral ventricle in a dose of 0.1 µg per mouse caused run, jumps, convulsions and then the death of the animals. In the experimental groups the preinjection of the test substances prevented the development of convulsions and death of the animals. Each dose of the agent was tested in a group of 6 - 8 animals. The ED 50 value (the dose of the agent preventing the development of convulsions and the death of 50% of the animals) was determined by a probit-analysis method (Litchfild J.T., Wicoxon F.J. - Pharmacol.Exp.Therap., 1949, v. 96. p. 99-114). The closest prior art agent tacrine characterized above and the known compound AP-5 exhibiting the anti - NMDA activity were tested for comparative purposes. The test results are summarised in Table A. No R 1 R 2 R 3 Salt ED 50 (mg/kg, i.p) 1 Me H H - 30 ± 4 2 Me H Me - 16 ± 4 3 Me H Me MeJ - 40 4 Me H Me 2HCl 31 ± 7 5 Me H Br HCl 29 ± 5 6 Et H H - 45 ± 6 7 PhCH 2 H H - 43 ± 5 8 Me PhCH 2 Me HCl 45 ± 5 9 ME 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 - H 1.5H 2 SO 4 ·H 2 O 22 ± 4 10 ME 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 - Me 2HCL 42 ± 6 11 Tacrine not active 12 AP-5 190±20 i.p. - intraperitoneally It follows from Table A, that the compounds according to the invention have an anti-NMDA activity expressed as ED 50 in the range of 16 - 45 mg/kg by intraperitoneal inoculation, i.e. in the pharmacologically acceptable range, and do not show any appreciable neurotoxic effect in the investigated doses. Thus, the marked NMDA-antagonist properties found in the compounds of formula (I) permit a conclusion on the potential usefulness of the said compounds in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular, Alzheimer's disease. The "dimebon" agent (compound No.10) which is used in medicine as an antiallergic agent (Inventor's Certificate No. 1138164, IP Class A61K 31/47,5, C07 D 209/52, published on February 7, 1985) was also clinically tested as an agent for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The carbidine agent (compound No.4) is less suitable for preliminary clinical tests due to its obvious psychotropic effect capable of masking some manifestations of positive treatment results. Dimebon is non-toxic and does not show any negative side-effects. The test was carried out under the direct supervision by two of the inventors, namely E.E. Bukatina and V.Grigorieva in 14 patients who agreed to take part in the tests, 13 of whom lived in boarding house for senile persons and one patient lived with her family. The data on the patients (age, sex, place of observation and duration of the disease) are presented in Table 1. Alzheimer's disease was diagnosed on the basis of criteria ICD-10 NINCDS ADRDA. The information on the onset and the course of the disease in 7 patients was given by their closest relatives. Six patients (observations 1, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 12) living in the boarding house had no relatives or other persons who could give any information on the time of onset of the first symptoms and the pattern of the course of the disease. However, it is apparent from the medical charts of all the patients that the very first examinations by the doctors revealed distinct disturbances of memory which increased with time. No sharp changes in the condition of the patients during their in the boarding house were found and recorded in the available medical documents and in the doctor's conclusions in the outpatient clinics where the patients had been examined before admission to the boarding house. From what has been stated above as well as the clinical features of dementia suggested Alzheimer's disease which had started before the admission to the boarding house. In one female (observation 10) progressive decline of memory was noted in the boarding house almost 2 years after her admission. Dementia of different degree, from the initial to marked manifestations, was found in all cases of the beginning of the investigation. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by computer tomography (CT) of the brain. Dimebon in the form of tablets (comprising 10 mg of dimebon, 30 mg of lactose, 5 mg of magnesium stearate was prescribed for oral administration in a dose of 0.02 g three times a day. The patients living in the boarding house received dimebon for 58 days. A patient (observation 14) who was under outpatient observation continued taking the agent for a month after the completion of the tests. Before treatment with dimebon, and at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment the patients were examined according to Hazegawa's scale and the inventors' scale ("Social and Clinical Psychiatry", 1992, No.4, pp.29-37) which includes the following items: (1) orientation in locality, time, immediate surroundings and one's own personality; (2) orientation in space; (3) memory for the past; (4) memory for the present; (5) "life in the past"; (6) (a) articulation, (b) difficulty in finding words, and distortion of words; (c) naming of objects; (d) following instructions; (7) concentration (of attention); (8) an affective sphere; (a) high spirits, (b) low spirits; (9) delirium; (10) hearing hallucinations; (11) visual hallucinations; (12) senile or senile-like confusion (when motion anxiety is accompanied by the revival of the past experience); (13) irritability; (14) anxiety; (15) asthenia; (16) headaches; (17) dizziness; (18) tearfulness; (19)spontaneous activity; (20) elementary self-service; (21) control of sphincters. According to the Hazegawa's scale, the 0 score indicates the poorest result; on the contrary, according to the inventors' scale, the 0 score indicates the absence of a symptom 4 score indicates the greatest manifestation thereof. At the examination according to the inventors' scale, the degree of disturbance of some function proved to be between the two evaluation indices, the value was of intermediate type, e.g. 0.5, 1.5, or the like. Before the therapy was started, the patients had been independently examined by two doctors who used the inventors' scale. The examination during the treatment was carried out by the doctors using both the scales. The evaluation according to all the inventors' scale points during all the tests and their variations during the treatment with dimebon are given in the Appendix. According to the inventors' scale, the degree of the disturbance if the cognitive functions was determined by a sum of evaluations according to the first 5 scale points reflecting the condition of memory, orientation and relation with the reality. The disturbance of speech was dealt with separately and was determined by a sum of evaluations according to items 6b-6d. No disturbances of articulation (item 6a) corresponding to peculiar disturbances of speech functions in Alzheimer's disease were observed in any cases. Both absolute evaluations of the signs under investigation (the evaluation prior to treatment is a mean evaluation of the two examinations) and variations in them were analysed in the course of therapy. In doing so, only those changes that were beyond the range of evaluations obtained in two pre-treatment examinations were taken into consideration. The test results reflected the condition of the patients a the time of the examination. Any changes in the metal state observed in the interval between the tests and disappearing by the moment of examination according to the scale described in the section "Clinical Observations". The statistical data processing was carried out by means of Student's t-test and Fisher's "Fi" criterion. THE RESULTS 1. The examination according to Hazegawa's scale The results obtained during the examination of the patients according to Hazegawa's scale are shown in Table 2. The test results of 7 patients with relatively mild dementia are presented in Table 3. This group included the patients whose evaluation for each of the inventor's 5-point scale did not exceed 2.5 scores. In fact, only one of the patients had such score (observation 2) according to the 3rd scale point (memory for the past). All the other patients had lower scores. As can be seen from Table 2, against the background of treatment with dimebon there is a tend for improvement which becomes more marked with an increase in the duration of the therapy. Most close to the significant are the results obtained after 8-week course of treatment of the patients with mild dementia (Table 3): for p<0.05, tst=2.2, td=2.1. 2. The examination according to the inventor's scale 2.1. The results according to all the points of the investor's scale are presented in Table 4. 2.2. Cognitive functions. The evaluations of the cognitive functions (the sum of evaluations according to the first 5 points of the scale) are presented in Table 5 and their variations in the course of the therapy are shown in Table 6. As in the case of examinations according to Hazegawa's scale, there was a trend to some improvement in the cognitive functions during the treatment with dimebon, which was more evident when the agent was administered for a longer period (Table 5). The data of Table 6 clearly show that after 8 weeks of he therapy there was significantly better improvement in the cognitive functions than after 4 weeks. Similar Tables (Tables 7 and 8) are provided for the patients who had mild dementia. It follows from these Tables, that in this group of patients there was not only significantly greater improvement in the cognitive functions after the 8-week course of treatment than after the 4-week course (like in the total group of patients), but also significantly different absolute values of the scores before treatment and after 8 weeks of dimebon administration. The pattern of distribution of the variations according to the first 5 points of the scale reflecting the condition of the cognitive functions (Table 9) reveals the lack of impairments both after 4-week and 8-week treatment. There is also trend for more improvements with a longer treatment. Slight improvements were significantly more frequent after 8 weeks of the treatment that after 4 weeks. It may be assumed that 4-week treatment with dimebon produces positive results at least for the patients suffering from mild dementia. The inventors possess data on AD with a spontaneous course in 8 patients with mild dementia. These patients were observed in the Moscow Boarding House No. 20 in 1988 and given placebo for a month. These patients had received no therapy that could influence cognitive functions in AD. By the degree of initial dementia (the mean sum of evaluations of two examinations according to the first 5 items of the scale prior to the test), both groups of the patients were comparable: 5.72±0.39 score for the patients in the control group and 6.29±0.7 score for those in the experimental group. The comparison of the changes of cognitive functions of this and experimental group after 4 weeks showed the following: changes in the cognitive functions in these groups of patients during one month was 0.5±0.14 in the experimental group and 0.12±0.12 in the control group, p<0.01. 2.3. Speech. The evaluation of speech functions (the sum of scores for items bb-6d) during dimebon therapy are presented in Tables 10 and 11. The data in Table 10 show some trend for improvement of speech functions during the period of dimebon administration, which was slightly more evident in the prolonged treatment. The distribution pattern of the variations in items 6b-6d reflecting the condition of the speech functions is presented in Table 12. 2.4. Other scale values. During the test period none of the patients showed hearing or visual hallucinations (items 10 and 11), senile confusion (item 12) or disturbances of sphincter control (item 21). As mentioned above, the results of the examinations by all the other items of the scale are presented in Table 4. The mean values in this Table have been calculated for the whole group of the patients examined. The dynamics of those pathological manifestations which according to the data presented in Table 4 have a trend for marked variations during the course of treatment with dimebon are dealt with in more detail below. Only those cases are analysed where the appropriate manifestations occurred prior to or during the treatment. (a) Depression Prior to the treatment, 11 patients had various depressive symptoms. At 4 weeks after the treatment with demibon, in 5 patients (45%) the depression abated and there was not a single case of deterioration or emergence of depression. After 8 weeks of treatment, 6 patients showed an improvement (55%). One patient showed signs of aggravation. The mean values in 12 patients with depressive manifestations prior to the treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment were 1.1±0.22, 0.58±0.18 and 0.58±0.14 score, respectively. The dynamics of depressive manifestations in patients suffering from evident depression prior to the treatment with dimebon (the scores were not less than 1 in both examinations) are presented in Table 13. As can be seen from the Table, abatement of depression was significant after 8 weeks of the treatment. In this case, after the course of the treatment with dimebon, there was a close correlation between the improved cognitive functions and abated depressive symptoms (Table 14): r=0.8, p<0.01. The improvement in the values by Hazegawa's scale also correlates with the abatement of depression after 8 weeks of treatment. After 8 weeks r=0.63 and p<0.05, and after 4 weeks r-0.3 and p> 0.05. (b) Delirium During treatment with dimebon there was not a single case of the first emergence of delirium. It can be seen from Table 4, that there is a certain trend for abatement of delirious symptoms during the course of treatment. In the analysis of similar relationships among 10 patients who had delirious symptoms prior to the treatment, no obvious differences were found, either. The mean values of delirium manifestations prior to the medical treatment and 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment were 1.28±0.21, 0.8±0.33 and 0.7±0.27, respectively. (c) Irritability Not a single observation indicated the aggregation or emergence of irritability during the treatment with dimebon. Prior to the treatment 7 patients showed irritability (Table 15). As can be seen from the Table, an appreciable reduction in irritability was noted after 8 weeks of the treatment. (d) Headaches 10 patients complained headaches during the observation period. One of them (observation 14) had the first headaches in the 8th week of the treatment. The other 9 patients had headaches prior to the treatment. The analysis of variations in these symptoms after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment in comparison with two examinations carried out before the beginning of the treatment showed no aggregation of headaches against the background of the therapy in these cases. Five patients (50%) showed abatement or complete cessation of headaches after 4 weeks of treatment and 3 patients (30%) showed the same improvement after 8 weeks. The data on the dynamics of the intensity of headaches in the patients who suffered from them are presented in Table 16. They show that the abatement of headaches was observed 4 weeks after the treatment, and some intensification of these symptoms was observed after 8 weeks. (e) Tearfulness Prior to the treatment patients suffered from tearfulness (3 patients showed slight tearfulness). After four weeks 4 female patients showed no sings of it and after 8 weeks not a single female patient suffered from tearfulness. Prior to the medical treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment the mean scores of tearfulness were 0.36±0.18, 0.2±0.18, and 0±0.0, respectively. All the differences are not significant. 3. Clinical observations The pattern of the dynamics of the mental states of the patients during the treatment with dimebon registered in clinical observations is presented in Table 17. Psychopathic-like symptoms (lack of restraint, touchiness, conflict making, evil-mindedness or aggressiveness) in all 7 patients who suffered from them decreased significantly during the first 2 weeks or therapy. A distinct antidepressive effect of the agent was also observed in 8 patients. One of them (observation 10) showed no lower spirits during the test period, but, as the medical stuff reported, she had frequent disphorias which ceased during dimebon administration. Besides, the patient herself (dementia was not profound in this case) constantly emphasized that her mood improved during the treatment. Only one female patient (observation 14) showed no signs of abatement of depressive manifestations during the test period. This patient continued to take dimebon after the termination of the trial. On the 62nd day of the treatment she noted considerable improvement in her mood which persisted during a month while she was taking the medicinal preparation. In most other cases normalization of the improvement of the affection occurred soon after the beginning of the therapy: in one patient (observation 7) on the 2nd day, in 2 patients (observations 4 and 10) on the 4th day, in 2 patients (observations 3 and 5) on the 7th or 8th day, in 3 patients (observations 2, 1, 13) on the 11th or 12th day. In two of these patients (observations I and 13) the spirits continued to improve and the effect attained after 8 weeks of the treatment was higher than that observed after 4 weeks. 4 patients (observations 1, 2, 7 and, 10) became more active and noted themselves that they experienced a sense of cheerfulness and freshness, 2 patients (observations 4 and 7) slept better, 4 patients (observations 1, 5, 6, and 7) complained of headaches much less frequently during the treatment, 8 patients (observations 1, 2 ,3 ,4. 7, 8, 10, and 11) displayed a greater interest in what has happening around. On the whole, the patients became calmer and more sociable, easier to deal with, they began acting and responding more adequately. In some cases (observations 1, 2, 4, 7, and 13) the entire appearance of the patients changed in the estimation of those who were observing them. 4. EEG Investigations No changes in the EEG during the course of treatment were observed in any patients, except one (observation 12) who had experienced increase of focal Δ-waves and still greater retardation of the rhythm. Six patients showed the following slight changes in the EEG during the treatment course: a tendency for a greater frequency of the main rhythm (observations 4 and 5), some intensification of the β-thythm (observations 5 and 14) (positive dynamics), a great number of acute waves (observations 2 and 5) and paroxysmal symptoms (observation 10), the latter considered to be the negative dynamics. In observations 2, 11 and 14 the weakly positive dynamics of the EEG was manifested in weaker outbursts during hyperventilation and normalization of the zonal differences. 5. Blood and urea analysis No pathologic changes in the hematological and biochemical statutes were found during the course of the treatment. There was a significant reduction in the amount of leukocytes (within normal limits) after 4 weeks of the treatment, p<0.05. By the 8th week of the treatment the amount of leukocytes was normal again. Conclusion A pilot research of the effectiveness of dimebon in 14 patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease revealed definite positive effect of the agent on psychopatic-like and depressive manifestations. The examinations carried out using Hazegawa's scale and the inventors scale revealed a significant improvement in cognitive functions especially in patients with mild dementia. The results obtained in the studies attest the therapeutic activity of dimebon in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Distribution of Patients According to Age, Sex, Observation Place and Duration of the Disease No No Age Age Observation Sex place Residence time in boardine house Duration of the disease 1 87 f boarding house 2 years and 3 months more than 2 years and 3 months 2 83 f boarding house 6 months more than 6 months 3 74 m boarding house 1 year and 4 months more than 1 year and 4 months 4 87 f boarding house 1 year and 5 months 7 years 5 87 f boarding house 2 years and 11 months 3 years 6 88 f boarding house 1 year and 9 months 5 years 7 85 f boarding house 1 year and 4 months more than 1 year and 4 months 8 83 f boarding house 1 year and 4 months 4 years 9 83 f boarding house 1 year and 5 months more that 1 year and 5 months 10 85 f boarding house 3 years and 8 months 2 years 11 81 f boarding house 1 year 1 year and a half 12 81 f boarding house 1 year and 11 months more than 1 year and 11 months 13 80 f boarding house 2 years 9 years 14 64 f out-patients clinic - 9 years Evaluation according to Hazegawa's Scale Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Dimebon Nos Prior to med. treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 14 22 19 2 14 13.5 20 3 24.5 24 28.5 4 19 26.5 25.5 5 2.5 2.5 4.5 6 12.5 13.5 15 7 2 7.5 2 8 11.5 14.5 23.5 9 15.5 14.5 9 10 25.5 19 25.5 11 7 13 9.5 12 3.5 2 4.5q 13 7 7 7 14 24.5 26 25 M+/-m 12.35+/-1.95 14.68+/-1.87 15.68+/-2.39 P insignificant insignificant Evaluation according to Hazegawa's Scale Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Dimebon in Patients with Nonprofound Dementia Nos Prior to med. treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 14 22 19 2 14 13.5 20 3 24.5 24 28.5 4 19 26.5 25.5 8 11.5 14.5 23.5 10 25.5 19 25.5 14 24.5 26 25 M+/-m 19+/-2.04 20.79+/-1.85 23+/-1.17 P insignificant t d = 2.1 p=0.05 t st = 2.2 Mean Values according to All Points of the Inventor's Scale prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of the Demibon Treatment and Their Variations during the Treatment in Relation to Two Examinations prior to the Treatment Mean values, scores Changes during the course of the therapy, scores No prior to med. treatment after 4 weeks after 8 weeks after 4 weeks after 8 weeks 1 1.82+/-0.19 1.75+/-0.23 1.57+/-0.23 +0.11+/-0.07 +0.18+/-0.08 2 0.54+/-0.16 0.32+/-0.15 0.25+/-0.13 +0.11+/-0.07 +0.11+/-0.07 3 2.34+/-0.23 2.29+/-0.21 1.93+/-0.24 +0.07+/-0.07 +0.29+/-0.1 4 2.38+/-0.22 2.21+/-0.22 1.86+/-0.23 0+/-0 0.29+/-0.08 5 1.86+/-0.21 1.75+/-0.27 1.57+/-0.27 +0.14+/-0.08 0.29+/-0.1 6b 0.57+/-0.18 0.43+/-0.17 0.39+/-0.2 0+/-0 -0.04+/-0.03 6a 0.89+/-0.23 0.71+/-0.21 0.54+/-0.21 +0.11+/-0.07 +0.14+/-0.08 6g 0.64+/-0.17 0.46+/-0.16 0.54+/-0.19 -0.07+/-0.12 -0.07+/-0.18 7 1.9+/-0.27 1.75+/-0.26 1.75+/-0.3 0+/-0.5 -0.04+/-0.06 8b 0.95+/-0.22 0.5+/-0.16 0.46+/-0.14 +0.41+/-0.17 +0.43+/-0.2 9 0.91+/-0.2 0.57+/-0.29 0.5+/-0.19 +0.07+/-0.09 +0.25+/-0.17 13 0.57+/-0.19 0.21+/-0.15 0.14+/-0.09 +0.29+/-0.13 +0.36+/-0.16 14 0.38+/-0.09 0.29+/-0.12 0.18+/-0.1 -0.04+/-0.13 +0.07+/-0.09 15 0.13+/-0.06 0.18+/-0.1 0.04+/-0.03 -0.11+/-0.09 0+/-0 16 1.02+/-0.27 0.32+/-0.21 0.64+/-0.24 +0.54+/-0.21 +0.21+/-0.1 17 0.64+/-0.19 0.71+/-0.27 0.68+/-0.25 -0.14+/-0.17 -0.18+/-0.22 18 0.36+/-0.18 0.07+/-0.07 0.14+/-0.14 +0.14+/-0.14 +0.21+/-0.15 19 1.36+/-0.22 1.29+/-0.22 1.18+/-0.27 0+/-0 +0.04+/-0.11 20 0.13+/-0.08 0.07+/-0.07 0.14+/-0.4 +0.07+/-0.07 0+/-0.1 Notes to the Table As can be seen from items 6a, 10, 11, 12, and 21, no disorders were found in any case. Here and hereinafter "+" denotes improvement, "-" denotes deterioration of function. No significant differences were found in any of the scale points. Values of Cognitive Function (Sum of Values according to First 5 Scale Points) Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Nos Mean values of 2 examinations prior to the treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 8 5.5 3 2 8.5 8.5 5 3 4.25 3.5 2 4 7.5 6.5 5 5 12.5 12 12 6 8.5 9.5 7 7 13.25 10 12 8 7.5 8 6 9 12 12 11.5 10 4.25 3 3 11 9 8.5 8 12 15 15 13 13 12 11 10.5 14 4 3.5 3 M+/-m 9.02+/-0.9 8.32+/-0.93 7.21+/-0.82 P insignificant insignificant Variations of Cognitive Function with Respect to Two Examinations Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Observation Nos Duration of the treatment 4 weeks 8 weeks 1 +1 +3 2 0 +2 3 +0.5 +2 4 +0.5 +3 5 +0.5 +0.5 6 0 +1.5 7 +2 +1 8 0 +0.5 9 0 0 10 +1 +1 11 0 0 12 0 +0.5 13 0 0 14 +0.5 +1 M+/-m +0.43+/-0.15 +1.14+/-0.26 P < 0.05 Values of Cognitive Functions Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon in Patients with Unprofound Dementia Nos Mean values of 2 examinations prior to the treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 8 5.5 3 2 8.5 8.5 5 3 4.25 3.5 2 4 7.5 6.5 5 8 7.5 8 6 10 4.25 3 3 14 4 3.5 3 M+/-m 6.29+/-0.795 5.5+/-0.79 3.93+/-0.5 P insignificant < 0.05 Variations of Cognitive Function with Respect to Two Examinations Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon in Patients with Unprofound Dementia Observation Nos Duration of the treatment 4 weeks 8 weeks 1 +1 +3 2 0 +2 3 +0.5 +2 4 +0.5 +3 8 0 +0.5 10 +1 +1 14 +0.5 +1 M+/-m +0.5+/-0.14 +1.79+/-0.35 P < 0.05 Distribution of Veriations according to First 5 Scale Points which Indicate the State of Cognitive Functions during 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Duration of the treatment 4 weeks 8 weeks Variations slight moderate marked total slight moderate marked total Improvements abs. 4 4 - 8 18 6 - 24 % 5.7 5.7 - 11.4 25.7 8.6 - 34.3 Deteriorations abs. - - - - - - - - % - - - - - - - - No variations abs. 57 41 % 81.4 53.6 X abs. 5 5 % 7.1 7.1 Notes to the Table: Slight variations by 0.5 score Moderarte variations by 1 score Marked variations by more than I score X - No variations in the function prior to and during the treatment Evaluation of Speech Function (Sum of Values according to Items 6b-bd) in scores prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Nos Mean values of 2 examinations prior to the treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks I 0.25 0 0 2 1.5 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 5 4 3 2 6 2 1 1 7 5 4.5 6 8 0.5 1 0 9 0.75 1.5 1 10 0 0 1 11 2 1.5 0 12 6.25 5 4.5 13 3 2 1 14 3.25 3 3 M+/-m 2.11+/-0.5 1.61+/-0.44 1.39+/-0.47 P insignificant insignificant Variations of Speech Function with Respect to Two Examinations Prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Observation Nos Duration of the treatment 4 weeks 8 weeks 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 4 +1 +1 5 +0.5 +0.5 6 0 0 7 0 -1.5 8 -1 0 9 0 -1 10 0 -1 11 0 +1.5 12 +1 +0.5 13 +1 +1 14 0 -0.5 M+/-m +0.18+/-0.14 +0.04+/-0.22 P insignificant Distribution of Veriations accoding to Items 6b, c, d of the Scale Points which Indicate the State of Speech Functions during 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Demibon Duration of the treatment 4 weeks 8 weeks Variations slight moderate marked total slight moderate marked total Improvements abs. 1 3 - 4 3 3 - 6 % 2.4 7.14 - 9.5 7.14 7.1 - 14.3 Deteriorations abs. - 1 - 1 1 2 1 4 % - 2.4 - 2.4 2.4 4.8 2.4 9.6 No variations abs. 23 19 % 54.8 45.2 X abs. 14 13 % 33.3 30.95 Notes to the Table: Slight variations by 0.5 score Moderarte variations by 1 score Marked variations by more than I score X - No variations in the function prior to and during the treatment The Dynamics of Marked Depressive Manifestation in Patients Having Depression Value of at least I Score for Two Examinations prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Dimebon Nos Values, scores Prior to treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 1.75 1 0.5 2 1.5 0 0.5 3 1 0.5 0 4 3 1 1 5 1 0 0 9 0 0 1 11 1 1 1 14 1.75 3 1.5 M+/-m 1.38+/-0.29 0.69+/-0.23 0.69+/-0.18 P insignificant <0.05 Correlation between Variations in Cognitive Functions and Variations in Depressive Manifestations after 4 and 8 Weeks or Treatment with Demibon Nos after 4 weeks after 8 weeks Variations in cognitive functions Variations in depressive functions Variations in cognitive functions Variations in depressive functions 1 +1 +0.5 +3 +1.5 2 0 +1.5 +2 +1 3 +0.5 +0.5 +2 +1 4 +0.5 +2 +3 +2 5 +0.5 +1 +0.5 +1 6 0 0 +1.5 0 7 +2 0 +1 0 8 0 0 +0.5 0 9 0 0 0 -1 10 +1 0 +1 0 11 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 +0.5 +0.5 13 0 0 0 0 14 +0.5 0 +1 0 n -0.02 0.8 P insignificant <0.01 Evaluation of the Degree of Irritability in Scores prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Dimebon Having these Symptoms in the Clinical Picture Nos Values, scores Prior to treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 2 0.5 0 0 3 1.5 0 0 4 1 0 0 5 1.75 2 0 7 0.5 0 0 10 0.75 0 1 13 2 1 1 M+/-m 1.14+/-0.21 0.43+/-0.28 0.29+/-5.17 P insignificant < 0.01 Evaluation of Intensity of Headache in Scores prior to and after 4 and 8 Weeks of Treatment with Dimebon Having these Symptoms in the Clinical Picture Nos Values, scores Prior to treatment After 4 weeks After 8 weeks 1 0.5 0.5 0 2 1 0 1 4 2 1 2 5 2.25 0 1.5 6 0.25 0 0.5 7 2.5 0 0 10 2.25 0 0 11 2.5 3 3 12 1 0 0 14 0 0 1 M+/-m 1.43+/-0.29 0.45+/-0.29 0.9+/-0.31 P <0.05 insignificant

Claims: Use of a hydrogenated pyrido[4,3-b]indole derivative of formula (I); wherein either: the line ----- represents a single bond and R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H and R 3 represents Me, and the compound is in the form of a cis (±) isomer; or the line ----- represents a double bond and (i) R 1 represents Et or PhCH 2 , and R 2 and R 3 represent H, (ii) R 1 and R 3 represent Me, and R 2 represents PhCH 2 , (iii) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 , and R 3 represents H, (iv) R 1 and R 3 represent Me, and R 2 represents 6-Me-3-Py-(CH 2 ) 2 , (v) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H, and R 3 represents H or Me, (vi) R 1 represents Me, R 2 represents H, and R 3 represents Br, and salts thereof with pharmacologically acceptable acids and quaternary derivatives, in the preparation of a medicament for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2,8-dimethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or its methyliodide. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is cis (±) 2,8-dimethyl-2, 3,4,4a,5,9b-hexahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or its dihydrochloride. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2-methyl-8-bromo-2,3, 4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or its hydrochloride. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2-ethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2-benzyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2,8-dimethyl-5-benzyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or its hydrochloride. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2-methyl-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2,3,4,5-tetahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole or its sesquisulfate monohydrate. The use according to Claim 1 wherein the derivative of Formula I is 2,8-dimethyl-5-[2-(6-methyl-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4, 3-b]indole or its dihydrochloride. The use according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the derivative of Formula (I) is a quaternary salt.

Inventors: SELENA PHARMACEUTICALS INC, AFANASIEV, ANDREI ZAKHAROVICH, AFANASIEVA, SVETLANA VASILIEVNA, BACHURIN, SERGEI OLEGOVICH, BUKATINA, ELIZAVETA EVGENIEVNA, CHETVERIKOV, VALERY PAVLOVICH, GRIGORIEV, VLADIMIR VIKTOROVICH, GRIGORIEVA, IRINA VLADIMIROVNA, JUROVSKAYA, MARINA ABRAMOVNA, TKACHENKO, SERGEI EVGENIEVICH, ZEFIROV, NIKOLAI SERAFIMOVICH, SELENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Applicants: SELENA PHARMACEUTICALS INC, SELENA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61P25, A61K31