Pyrazolidinol compounds

Abstract

The invention provides the use of an optionally hydroxyl-protected 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxopyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, for the manufacture of a medicament for use in drug therapy or prophylaxis. Additionally, the invention provides a method of combating HIV infection which comprises administering to an HIV-infected patient a T-lymphocyte growth suppressing agent, preferably a pyrazolidinol, in an amount sufficient to suppress T-lymphocyte growth in said patient for a period sufficient to reduce the T-lymphocyte concentration in lymph nodes in said patient.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . A method of treatment of the human or non-human body to combat an inflammatory autoimmune or viral disease or a tumor, which method comprises administering to said body an optionally hydroxy-protected 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  comprising administering said optionally hydroxy-protected 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another agent. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said additional antiviral agent is at least one antiviral agent selected from a reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a protease inhibitor. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said additional antiviral agent is an agent selected from the group of AZT, indinavir, nevirapine and 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (daI). 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A method of combating HIV infection which comprises administering to an HIV-infected patient a T-lymphocyte growth suppressing agent in an amount sufficient to suppress T-lymphocyte growth in said patient for a period sufficient to reduce the T-lymphocyte concentration in the lymphatic system in said patient by at least 25% said administration being repeated at intervals of at least 3 months. 
   
   
       11 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said disease is a disease caused by a pathogen from the group of togaviridea, reoviridea, picornaviridea, hantaviridea, orthomyxoviridea, paramyxoviridea, mononegaviralis, viral hepatitis, haemorrhagic fevers, flaviviridea, viral encephalitis, coronaviridea, calciviridea, adenoviridea, papovaviridea, arboviridea, pox virus, rhabdoviridea, arenaviridea HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-I, HTLV-II and herpes viruses. 
   
   
       28 . A method of combating HIV infection as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said T-lymphocyte growth suppressing agent is a pyrazolidinol. 
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said interval is at least 9 months. 
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein a 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof is administered in a daily dose of 0.1 to 10 μmol/kg bodyweight. 
   
   
       31 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein a 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof is administered in a daily dose of 0.1 to 10 pmol/kg bodyweight. 
   
   
       32 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an optionally hydroxy-protected 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. 
   
   
       33 . A method of treatment of the human or non-human body to combat an autoimmune disease or tissue rejection, which method comprises administering to said body an optionally hydroxy-protected 4-hydroxy or hydroperoxy-3,5-dioxo-pyrazolidine or an equivalent wherein a pyrazolidine ring attached oxygen is replaced by a sulphur, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof. 
   
   
       34 . A method of  claim 33  wherein said disease is selected from Addison's disease, Behçet's syndrome, diabetes mellitus, haemolytic anaemia, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anaemia, polyglandular deficiency, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, testicular failure, thrombocytopenic purpura, Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. 
   
   
       35 . A method of claim  24  wherein said tissue rejection is tissue rejection following transplant. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 3  to combat a viral disease wherein said another agent is an antiviral agent. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said tumour is a T-cell tumour or Karposi's sarcoma. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said T-cell tumour is selected from Sezary Syndrome, mycosis fungoides, T-cell lymphoma, and CD4 cell tumours.