Pharmaceutical compositions comprising 4-[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-3himidazole derivatives for treating retinal diseases

Abstract

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, containing 4-[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole, (S) 4 [1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole or (S) [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, their use as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of retinal diseases, for retinal neuroprotection and vision enhancement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating age related macular degeneration in a subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of (S) [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, or a tautomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating a retinal disease in a subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of (S) [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, or a tautomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any one of the foregoing; wherein the retinal disease is selected from geographic atrophy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, neuritis secondary to multiple sclerosis and retinal vein occlusion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retinal disease is geographic atrophy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retinal disease is diabetic retinopathy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retinal disease is diabetic macular edema. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retinal disease is neuritis secondary to multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retinal condition is retinal vein occlusion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         10 . A method of enhancing vision in a subject in need of such treatment, the method comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of (S) [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, or a tautomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any one of the foregoing, thereby improving visual function in the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the subject is a human.