Use of Deuterium Oxide to Treat Virus-Based Diseases of the Respiratory Tract

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of deuterium oxide for the prophylaxis and/or therapy of virus-based diseases of the respiratory tract.

1 . A method for the prevention and/or treatment of a virus-based disease of the respiratory tract wherein said method comprises administering, to a subject in need of such prevention and/or treatment, deuterium oxide. 
   
   
       2 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of acute rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, rhinitis sicca, paryngitis, herpangina, angina lateralis, tonsilitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, acute bronchiolitis, chronic bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, aveolitis, pneumonia, acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, gingivastomatitis herpetica, aphtosis herpetica, herpes nasalis, adenovirus pharyngo-conjunctivitis, infectious mononucleosis, acute asthma, chronic asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), laryngeal diphtheria, otitis media and inflammation of the Eustachian tubes. 
   
   
       3 . The method, according to  claim 1 , used to treat a combination of two or more virus-based diseases of the respiratory tract. 
   
   
       4 . The method, according to  claim 3 , wherein the two or more virus-based diseases of the respiratory tract occur simultaneously or successively. 
   
   
       5 . The method, according to  claim 4 , used to treat conditions selected from rhinosinusitis, tracheo-bronchitis, tracheobronchiolitis, bronchopneumonia, pharyngotonsilitis and laryngotracheobronchitis. 
   
   
       6 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the virus is of a family selected from the group consisting of Picornaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxo-viridae, Coronaviridae, Adenoviridae and Herpes-viridae. 
   
   
       7 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the virus is a virus of the genus Rhinovirus, Enterovirus, Influenzavirus, Pneumo-virus, Metapneumovirus, Coronavirus, Mastadenovirus, Simplexvirus and/or Varicellovirus. 
   
   
       8 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the virus is a virus of the species rhinivirus, Cosackie virus-1, Cosackie virus-2, echovirus, polio virus, influenza virus A, influenza virus B, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, coronavirus, human adenovirus A, human adenovirus B, human adenovirus C, human adenovirus D, human adenovirus E, human adenovirus F, human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) or varicella zoster virus (VZV). 
   
   
       9 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the deuterium oxide is administered topically. 
   
   
       10 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the deuterium oxide hydrates the respiratory tract. 
   
   
       11 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the deuterium oxide is used in combination with at least one other pharmaceutically active substance and/or at least one other non-pharmaceutically active substance. 
   
   
       12 . The method, according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other pharmaceutically active substance is selected from the group consisting of viro-static agents, sympathomimetic agents, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and immunosuppressant substances. 
   
   
       13 . The method, according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other non-pharmaceutically active substance is selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutically compatible inorganic or organic acids or bases, polymers, copolymers, block copolymers, simple sugars, complex sugars, ionic and nonionic surfactants and lipids and mixtures thereof, albumin, transferrin and DNA repair proteins. 
   
   
       14 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the deuterium oxide is administered as an aerosol. 
   
   
       15 . The method, according to  claim 1 , wherein the deuterium oxide is administered as a formulation. 
   
   
       16 . The method, according to  claim 15 , wherein the formulation is a vapor, liquid, cream, ointment, gel or hydrogel. 
   
   
       17 . A method for the production of a drug for the prevention and/or treatment of virus-based disease of the respiratory tract wherein said method comprises the use of deuterium oxide.