Patent ID: 7776846

Claim:
A method for enhancing the anti-inflammatory activity or duration of action, or both, of a compound having the formula: wherein: R 1 is C 1 -C 7 alkyl; Z is carbonyl or β-hydroxymethylene; X is Cl or F; R 2 is H, —OH or —OCOR 3 wherein R 3 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl; Y is —OH, —SH or —OCOR 4 wherein R 4 is C 1 -C 5 alkyl, cyclopentylethyl or diethylaminoethyl; and the dotted line in ring A indicates that the 1,2-linkage is saturated or unsaturated; following topical or other local administration of said compound to a warm-blooded animal in need of treatment to alleviate a topical or other localized inflammatory response, said method comprising topically or otherwise locally co-administering said compound to said animal with a synergistically effective amount of a compound having the formula: wherein: R is H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl; Z 1 is carbonyl or β-hydroxymethylene; X 1 is —O— or —S—; R 5 is —OH, —OR 6 , —OCOOR 6 or —OCOR 7 wherein R 6 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl and R 7 is C 1 -C 4 alkyl, fluoromethyl or chloromethyl; and the dotted line is defined as above; with the proviso that when R is C 1 -C 4 alkyl, then R 5 is —OH; the amount of compound of formula (II) being sufficient to enhance the anti-inflammatory activity or duration of action, or both, of said compound having formula (Ia) or (Ib).