Pharmaceutical Formulations Containing Lipoic Acid Derivatives

Abstract

Pharmaceutical formulations containing lipoic acid derivatives and ion pairs thereof are described. The pharmaceutical formulations are useful in the treatment of medical disorders, such as cancer.

1 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A method of treating a cancer of the pancreas or ovary in a patient, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical formulation comprising:
 (a) at least one compound having the structure represented by Formula I:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (b) at least one ion pairing agent that is either:
 (i) a tertiary amine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, mefenamic acid, tromethamine, polyethyleneimine, or a combination thereof or 
 (ii) lysine, diethylamine, piperazine, or ethylenediamine; and 
 
         (c) a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent; 
         wherein the compound of Formula I and the ion pairing agent form an ion pair. 
       
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent is a tertiary amine. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, polyethyleneimine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, mefenamic acid, tromethamine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent is triethanolamine. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent and the at least one compound of Formula I is present in a ratio ranging from 20:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent and the at least one compound of Formula I is present in a ratio ranging from 20:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent and the at least one compound of Formula I is present in a ratio ranging from 10:1 to 1:10. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent and the at least one compound of Formula I is present in a ratio ranging from 10:1 to 1:10. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the at least one ion pairing agent and the at least one compound of Formula I is present in a ratio of about 8:1. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the ion pair is present in the pharmaceutical formulation in an amount to provide from about 0.001 mg/m 2  to about 10 g/m 2  of the compound of Formula I upon administration of the pharmaceutical formulation to the patient. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of saline, a sugar solution, an alcohol, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the diluent is a dextrose solution. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the dextrose solution contains an amount of dextrose ranging from 2.5% to 10% by weight. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the pancreas. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the pancreas. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the pancreas. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the ovary. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the ovary. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the cancer is a cancer of the ovary.