Patent ID: 7223387

Claim:
A topical composition in the form of an oil in water emulsion comprising the lipophilic glucocorticoid hydrocortisone and a lipophobic acyclic nucleoside antiviral wherein the oil phase contains at least one member of the group consisting of mineral oil, alkanoic acids, fatty alcohols, straight chain mono alkyl esters, branched chain mono alkyl esters, straight chain dibasic alkyl esters and branched chain dibasic alkyl esters and contains said hydrocortisone; and said water phase contains 0.05–5% weight percent emulsifier and said acyclic nucleoside antiviral selected from the group consisting of acyclovir, penciclovir and 9-(4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)butyl)guanine, the composition further comprising propylene glycol and isopropyl C 12 –C 22 alkanoic acid ester selected from the group consisting of dodecanate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, eicosanate or behenoate esters, and mixtures thereof, wherein said hydrocortisone is 0.5 to 2 weight percent, said antiviral is 1 to 7 weight percent, said propylene glycol is 18 to 22 weight percent and said isopropyl C 12 –C 22 alkanoic acid ester is 12 to 18 weight percent.