Formulations decreasing particle exhalation

Abstract

Formulations have been developed for pulmonary delivery to treat or reduce the infectivity of diseases such as viral infections, especially tuberculosis, SARS, influenza and respiratory synticial virus in humans and hoof and mouth disease in animals, or to reduce the symptoms of allergy or other pulmonary disease. Formulations for pulmonary administration include a material that significantly alters physical properties such as surface tension and surface elasticity of lung mucus lining fluid, which may be isotonic saline and, optionally, a carrier. The formulation may be administered as a liquid solution, suspension, aerosol, or powder where the particles consist basically of an osmotically active solute. Drugs, especially antivirals or antibiotics, may optionally be included with the formulation. These may be administered with or incorporated into the formulation.

1 . A method for treating a respiratory infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a non-surfactant aerosol formulation comprising an active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, said diluent containing about 0.9-5% (w/w) NaCl. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, an antihistamine, and an antiviral agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-surfactant aerosol formulation is a substantially aqueous solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-surfactant aerosol formulation is in the form of a suspension. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-surfactant aerosol formulation is in the form of a dry powder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the respiratory infection is selected from the group consisting of tuberculosis, SARS, influenza, cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, African swine fever, coronavirus, rhinovirus, tularemia, bubonic plague, anthrax, bronchiolitis and foot and mouth disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the respiratory infection is influenza. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is at risk of developing a respiratory infection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said diluent contains about 0.9% (w/w) NaCl. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said aerosol formulation is administered to the subject by a nebulizer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-surfactant aerosol formulation does not induce expectoration in the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-surfactant aerosol formulation is administered to the subject for a duration of between 2 and 20 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-surfactant aerosol formulation is administered to the subject for a duration of between 10 and 108 seconds. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-surfactant aerosol formulation is effective to dilute endogenous airway lining fluid, endogenous surfactant fluid, to alter surface tension of endogenous surfactant fluid, to alter surface elasticity of endogenous surfactant fluid, to alter surface viscosity of endogenous airway lining fluid in the subject or to alter bulk viscosity of endogenous airway lining fluid in the subject. 
     
     
         16 . A method for reducing the exhalation of pulmonary infection particles in a subject having a pulmonary infection comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a non-surfactant aerosol formulation comprising an active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, said diluent containing about 0.9-5% (w/w) NaCl. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibiotic, an antihistamine, and an antiviral agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pulmonary infection particles are between about 80 to 120 nm in diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pulmonary infection particles are greater than about 120 nm in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)