Orally-administrable therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for HTLV-1-related diseases

Abstract

Disclosed are an orally-administrable therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for HTLV-1-related diseases, which comprises an interferon-γ as an effective ingredient and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, and a method for treating and/or preventing the diseases with the agent. The HTLV-1-related diseases include ATL, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, SLE, uveitis, and immunopathies.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An orally-administrable therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for HTLV-1-related diseases, which comprises an interferon-γ as an effective ingredient and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         2 . The agent of  claim 1 , wherein said interferon-γ is of a natural origin or one obtained by the recombinant DNA technology.  
     
     
         3 . The agent of  claim 1 , which further comprises, as a stabilizer for said interferon-γ, one or more members selected from the group consisting of saccharides, salts, amino acids, serum albumins, gelatin, non-ionic surfactants, glucuronic acid, dextrans, and hydroxyethyl starches.  
     
     
         4 . The agent of  claim 1 , which contains about 0.1 to about 10 6  units of said interferon-γ.  
     
     
         5 . The agent of  claim 1 , which is in the form of a granule, sugar-coated agent, troche or enteric-coated agent.  
     
     
         6 . The agent of  claim 1 , wherein said HTLV-1-related diseases are adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), Sjögren syndrome, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), uveitis, and immunopathies.  
     
     
         7 . The agent of  claim 1 , which contains about 10 to about 10 5  units of IFN-γ per gram of the agent.  
     
     
         8 . The agent of  claim 1 , which is in a dose unit form and which contains an about 0.1 to about 10 6  units of the IFN-γ.  
     
     
         9 . A method for treating and/or preventing HTLV-1-related diseases, comprising a step of administering the agent of  claim 1  to a subject suffering from an HTLV-1-related disease.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said HTLV-1-related disease is a member selected from the group consisting of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), Sjögren syndrome, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), uveitis, and immunopathies.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said agent is administered to said subject at a dose of one to 1×10 4  units/adult/day/kg of the body weight.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said agent is administered to said subject at a dose frequency of 1-4 shots/day or 1-7 shots/week over one week to one year.