EDTA and other chelators with or without antifungal antimicrobial agents for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one antifungal agent and at least one chelator, and a method for administering the pharmaceutical composition to a patient having a fungal infection. Another aspect provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one chelator, at least one antifungal agent and at least one monoclonal antibody, wherein the monoclonal antibody is operatively attached to the chelator, and a method of administering this composition to a patient having a fungal infection.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a systemic fungal infection comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one chelator, at least one antifungal agent and a pharmaceutical excipient, diluent or adjuvant; and    (b) administering said pharmaceutical composition to a patient having a fungal infection.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said chelator in said pharmaceutical composition may be selected from the group of chelators in Table 1.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said chelator is EDTA.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antifungal agent may be selected from the group of antifungal agents in Table 2.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said antifungal agent is Amphotericin B.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of chelator.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of antifungal agent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition may be administered by injection, bronchoalveoloar lavage, or by nasal drops, nasal spray, or nasal inhaler.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition may be administered by injection.  
     
     
         10 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one antifungal agent and at least one chelator.  
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the chelator may be selected from the group of chelators in Table 1.  
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the antifungal agent may be selected from the group of antifungal agents in Table 2.  
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11 , wherein the chelator is EDTA.  
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 12 , wherein the antifungal agent is Amphotericin B.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein the chelator is EDTA and the antifungal agent is Amphotericin B.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further defined as comprising about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of chelator.  
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further defined as comprising about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of antifungal agent.  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one monoclonal antibody specific for a targeted species of fungus.  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 10 , wherein said monoclonal antibody is operatively attached to said chelator.  
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one chelator, at least one antifungal agent and at least one monoclonal antibody, wherein said monoclonal antibody is operatively attached to said chelator.  
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 20 , wherein the chelator may be selected from the group of chelators in Table 1.  
     
     
         22 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 20 , wherein the antifungal agent may be selected from the group of antifungal agents in Table 2.  
     
     
         23 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 21 , wherein the chelator is EDTA.  
     
     
         24 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 22 , wherein the antifungal agent is Amphotericin B.  
     
     
         25 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 20 , wherein the chelator is EDTA and the antifungal agent is Amphotericin B.  
     
     
         26 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 20 , further defined as comprising about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of chelator.  
     
     
         27 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 20 , further defined as comprising about 0.001 mg to about 1000 mg of antifungal agent.  
     
     
         28 . A method for treating a systemic fungal infection comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one chelator, at least one antifungal agent and at least one monoclonal antibody, wherein said monoclonal antibody is operatively attached to said chelator.