Antifungal product, use and formulation thereof

Abstract

An antifungal product is comprised of at least three dosages forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the C max for the antifungal product being reached in less than about twelve hours. In one embodiment, there is an immediate release dosage form, as well as two or more delayed release dosage forms, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a C max at different times.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A once-a-day antifungal product comprising: first, second, and third dosage forms, wherein each of said dosage forms includes at least one antifungal agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; said first dosage form is an immediate release dosage form; said second and third dosage forms are delayed release dosage forms; each of said first, second, and third dosage forms initiates release of said at least one antifungal agent at different times; Cmax in serum of the total antifungal agent released from said antifungal product is achieved in less than about 12 hours from administration; and said once-a-day antifungal product contains the total dosage of said at least one antifungal agent for a twenty-four hour period.  
     
     
         2 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the Cmax for the product is reached no earlier than four hours after administration.  
     
     
         3 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the antifungal released from the first dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum within from about 0.5 hours to about 2 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         4 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the antifungal released from the second dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum in no more than about 4 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         5 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the antifungal released from the third dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum within 8 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         6 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the immediate release dosage form contains at least 20% and no more than 50% of the total dosage of antifungal.  
     
     
         7 . The product of  claim 1 , wherein the product is an oral dosage form.  
     
     
         8 . The product of  claim 7 , wherein the antifungal released from the second dosage form reaches a Cmax in the serum after Cmax is reached in the serum for the antifungal released from the first dosage form.  
     
     
         9 . The product of  claim 8 , wherein the antifungal released from the third dosage form reaches a Cmax in the serum after Cmax is reached in the serum for the antifungal released from the second dosage form.  
     
     
         10 . The product of  claim 9 , wherein said second dosage form initiates release of said antifungal before said third dosage form, wherein said second dosage form provides from 30% to 60% by weight of the total antifungal released by said second and third dosage forms, and wherein said third dosage form provides the remainder of the total antifungal released by said second and third dosage forms.  
     
     
         11 . The product of  claim 1  further comprising a fourth antifungal dosage form, said fourth antifungal dosage form comprising at least one antifungal and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and wherein said at least one antifungal released from said fourth antifungal dosage form reaches a Cmax in the serum after Cmax is achieved in the serum for antifungal released from each of said first, second, and third dosage forms.  
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein said fourth antifungal dosage form is a delayed release dosage form.  
     
     
         13 . The product of  claim 12 , wherein said second dosage form initiates release of said antifungal before said third dosage form, wherein said third dosage form initiates release of said antifungal before said fourth dosage form, wherein said second dosage form provides 20% to 35% by weight of the total antifungal released by said second, third, and fourth dosage forms, wherein said third dosage form provides from 20% to 40% by weight of the total antifungal released by said second, third, and fourth dosage forms, and wherein said fourth dosage form provides the remainder of the total antifungal released by said second, third, and fourth dosage forms.  
     
     
         14 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the antifungal released from the first dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum within from about 0.5 hours to about 2 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         15 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the antifungal released from the second dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum in no more than about 4 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         16 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the antifungal released from the third dosage form reaches a Cmax in serum within 8 hours after administration of the product.  
     
     
         17 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 1  once-a-day.    
     
     
         18 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 2  once-a-day.    
     
     
         19 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 3  once-a-day.    
     
     
         20 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 4  once-a-day.    
     
     
         21 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 5  once-a-day.    
     
     
         22 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 6  once-a-day.    
     
     
         23 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 7  once-a-day.    
     
     
         24 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 8  once-a-day.    
     
     
         25 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 9  once-a-day.    
     
     
         26 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 10  once-a-day.    
     
     
         27 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 11  once-a-day.    
     
     
         28 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 12  once-a-day.    
     
     
         29 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 13  once-a-day.    
     
     
         30 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 14  once-a-day.    
     
     
         31 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 15  once-a-day.    
     
     
         32 . A process for treating an antifungal infection in a host comprising: 
 administering to a host the antifungal product of  claim 16  once-a-day.