Patent ID: 7166297

Claim:
A method for the systemic treatment of parasitic infections of a mammal in need of treatment thereof, said parasitic infection being characterized by increasing the PLA 2 level in said mammal by administering to the mammal an efficient amount of a lipid-based drug delivery system comprising (A) a first active drug substance selected from lysolipid derivatives, wherein the active drug substance is present in the lipid-based system in the form of a prodrug, said prodrug being a lipid derivative having (a) an aliphatic group of a length of at least 7 carbon atoms and an organic radical having at least 7 carbon atoms, and (b) a hydrophilic moiety, said prodrug furthermore being a substrate for extracellular phospholipase A2 to the extent that the organic radical can be hydrolytically cleaved off, whereas the aliphatic group remains substantially unaffected, whereby the first active drug substance is liberated in the form of a lysolipid derivative which is not a substrate for lysophospholipase, and (B) a second drug substance which is a therapeutically and/or prophylactically active substance selected from the group consisting (i) anti-parasitic agents, (ii) antibiotics and anti-fungals, and (iii) anti-inflammatory agents, wherein the lipid-based drug delivery system is in the form of liposomes.