Medicated Hard Candy Product For Treating Esophageal Inflammation And A Method Using The Same

Abstract

A medicated hard candy product for treating eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is disclosed herein. The medicated hard candy product includes a hard candy base material, the hard candy base material forming a substantially rigid candy product after being heated and permitted to cool for a predetermined time period; and a corticosteroid, the corticosteroid being intermixed with the hard candy base material. The medicated hard candy product is configured to reduce or alleviate esophageal inflammation and/or symptoms associated therewith in an individual when orally administered thereto. In one or more embodiments, the corticosteroid comprises one of: (i) budesonide, (ii) fluticasone, (iii) ciclesonide, (iv) beclomethasone dipropionate, and (v) mometasone furoate. Also, in one or more embodiments, the medicated hard candy product is in the form of a lollipop or lozenge. A method of treating, reducing, or alleviating esophageal inflammation in an individual, which utilizes the medicated hard candy product, is also disclosed herein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating, reducing, or alleviating esophageal inflammation in an individual comprising orally administering to said individual a medicated hard candy product, said medicated hard candy product comprising:
 a hard candy base material, said hard candy base material forming a substantially rigid candy product after being heated and permitted to cool for a predetermined time period; and   a corticosteroid, said corticosteroid being intermixed with said hard candy base material, said corticosteroid comprising one of: (i) budesonide, (ii) fluticasone, (iii) ciclesonide, (iv) beclomethasone dipropionate, and (v) mometasone furoate.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said hard candy base material comprises a sugar-free dry powder base prior to being heated. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said medicated hard candy product contains no water after being heated and permitted to cool for said predetermined time period. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein no water is used in the process of making said medicated hard candy product, thereby substantially increasing a shelf life of said medicated hard candy product. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said shelf life of said medicated hard candy product is approximately 6 months. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said medicated hard candy product is in the form of a lollipop or sucker. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said medicated hard candy product is in the form of a lozenge. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said medicated hard candy product comprises between approximately 0.25 milligrams and approximately 2.0 milligrams of said corticosteroid. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said medicated hard candy product comprises between approximately 0.25 milligrams and approximately 1.0 milligrams of said corticosteroid. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the overall mass of said medicated hard candy product is between approximately 4.0 grams and approximately 17.0 grams. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said corticosteroid of said medicated hard candy product is effective to treat esophageal inflammation and/or the symptoms associated therewith caused by eosinophilic esophagitis.