Highly purified EPA and other EPA derivatives for psychiatric and neurological disorders

Abstract

A pharmaceutical preparation comprising EPA in an appropriately assimilable form where of all the fatty acids present in the preparation at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, is in the form of EPA and where less than 5%, and preferably less than 3%, is in the form of DHA is provided for the treatment of a psychiatric or central nervous disorder. The preparation may be administered with conventional drugs to treat psychiatric or central nervous disorders to improve their efficacy or reduce their side effects.

1 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising EPA in an appropriately assimilable form where of all the fatty acids present in the preparation at least 90%, and preferably at least 95%, is in the form of EPA, and where less than 5%, and preferably less than 3%, is in the form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).  
     
     
         2 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 1  characterised in that among the other fatty acids present there are less than 5%, and preferably less than 3%, of each of AA or DPA-n-3, individually.  
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 1  or  2  in which the aggregate DHA, AA and/or DPA-n-3 content is less than 10%, of the total fatty acids present and preferably less than 5%.  
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to any preceding claim in which the EPA is in the form of ethyl-EPA, lithium EPA, mono-, di- or triglyceride EPA or any other ester or salt of EPA, or the free acid form of EPA, or other appropriate bioavailable derivative which raises EPA levels within the body.  
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to any preceding claim in which the EPA is in the form of a 2-substituted derivative or other derivative which reduces the rate of oxidation without impairing its biological activity.  
     
     
         6 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to any preceding claim for the treatment or prevention of a psychiatric or central nervous system disorder.  
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or a schizotypal disorder.  
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is depression or manic-depression (bipolar disorder).  
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is anxiety or panic disorder or social phobia, or a sleep disorder or an attention deficit, conduct, hyperactivity or personality disorder.  
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, including multi-infarct dementia, Lewy body disease and diseases attributable to prion disorders.  
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is Parkinson's disease, or other motor system disorder.  
     
     
         12 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is multiple sclerosis.  
     
     
         13 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is stroke, or the post-stroke syndrome, or head injury or a post-head injury syndrome.  
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is epilepsy.  
     
     
         15 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to  claim 6  in which the disorder is Huntington's disease or any other neurodegenerative disorder, in particular any disorder due to trinucleotide repeats, including Friedreich's ataxia, myotonic dystrophy and fragile X syndrome.  
     
     
         16 . Formulations for use in psychiatric and neurological disorders in which a drug which acts primarily on neurotransmitter metabolism or receptors is prepared for co-administration with a pharmaceutical preparation according to any of claims  1 - 5 .  
     
     
         17 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising a preparation according to any of  claims 1  to  5  together with a drug which acts primarily on neurotransmitter metabolism or receptors.  
     
     
         18 . A formulation according to  claim 16  or  17  in which the drug is clozapine.  
     
     
         19 . A formulation according to  claim 16  or  17  in which the drug is any one of the class of typical or atypical neuroleptics, including chlorpromazine, haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, sertindole, ziprasidone, zotepine or amisulpiride.  
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical preparation according to any of  claims 1  to  5  for the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the joints, respiratory system, gastro-intestinal system, kidneys, skins, reproductive system and all other organs.  
     
     
         21 . Method of treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders in which a drug which acts primarily on neurotransmitter metabolism or receptors is used in conjunction with a pharmaceutical preparation according to any of claims  1 - 5 .  
     
     
         22 . A method of treatment according to  claim 21  in which the disorder to be treated is schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or a schizotypal disorder.  
     
     
         23 . A method of treatment according to  claim 21  in which the disorder to be treated is depression or bipolar disorder.  
     
     
         24 . A method of treatment according to  claim 21  in which the disorder to be treated is any other psychiatric disorder including sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, panic disorders, social phobias, conduct disorders, personality disorders and attentional and hyperactivity disorders.  
     
     
         25 . A method of treatment according to  claim 21  in which the disorder to be treated is any form of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, vascular dementia and other dementias.  
     
     
         26 . A method of treatment according to  claim 21  in which the disorder to be treated is any form of neurological disease, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy and other disorders.  
     
     
         27 . A method of treating or preventing the side effects of a drug used in treating psychiatric or neurological disorders by administration of the drug and a pharmaceutical preparation according to any one of claims  1  to  5 .