Inventors:
J. Samuel Zigler - Middletown MD
Paul Russell - Bethesda MD
Santa Tumminia - Ellicott City MD
Chuan Qin - Somerville MA
C. Murali Krishna - Derwood MD
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health
and Human Services - Washington DC
International Classification:
A61K 31445
A61K 3142
Abstract:
A pharmaceutical composition and treatment to inhibit the development of cataracts in the crystalline lens of the eye by administering a hydroxylamine to a subject at risk of developing a cataract. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a hydroxylamine compound in a therapeutically sufficient amount to prevent or retard the development of the cataract. A reducing agent can also be administered in combination with the hydroxylamine. Particular examples of the hydroxylamine are TEMPOL-H, TEMPO-H and OXANO-H, while particular examples of the reducing agent are a sulfhydryl compound, such as N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG), N-acetyl cysteine,. beta. -mercaptopropionyl glycine, and glutathione. In particular embodiments, the composition comprises TEMPOL-H in an amount that is sufficient to provide a concentration of about 1. mu. M to 1 mM in the aqueous humor of the eye, and mercaptopropionyl glycine in an amount sufficient to provide an aqueous humor concentrations of about 0. 1 to 5 mM.