Method and composition for treating acne

Abstract

The subject invention provides a method of treating acne in a subject which comprises topically and periodically applying to the subject's acne a composition comprising 3-phenyl-benzo[f]chromen-1-one and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in an amount effective to treat the subject's acne. The subject invention also provides a method of treating a skin condition associated with abnormal sebum secretion or abnormal sebaceous gland function in a subject, compositions in such methods and a sorting method for identifying agonists of AhR pathway useful in such methods and compositions.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of treating acne in a subject which comprises topically and periodically applying to the subject's acne a composition comprising 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in an amount effective to treat the subject's acne. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration between about 0.005% and about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration between about 0.1% and about 2.5% by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1% by weight. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.25% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 2% by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight between 200 g/mol and 1000 g/mol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 ,  11  or  12 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol in a ratio from 5:1 to 1:5 by volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ratio is between 2:1 and 1:2 by volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio is about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a solution and comprises 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one at a concentration between 0.005 g and 1.0 g 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one per 100 mL of the composition and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the concentration of 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is between 0.05 g and 0.5 g. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is at a concentration of about 0.5 g, the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol and the mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol is in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further comprises one or more of an alcohol, an anti-bacterial agent, a preservative, and a chelating agent. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 19 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a lotion, gel, cream, ointment, foam, solution, suspension, dispersion or impregnated dressing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acne is facial acne. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acne is associated with  Propionibacterium acnes.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acne is associated with a high sebum secretion rate. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied daily. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  or  24 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied only at night. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied twice or three times daily. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied every other day. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied weekly. 
     
     
         29 . A method of treating a skin condition associated with abnormal sebum secretion or abnormal sebaceous gland function in a subject which comprises topically and periodically applying to an area of subject's skin affected by the skin condition a composition comprising 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in an amount effective to treat the skin condition. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the skin condition is oily skin, oily hair, shiny or greasy-looking skin, hyperseborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, sebaceous hyperplasia or sebaceous carcinoma. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skin condition is seborrheic dermatitis. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skin condition is rosacea. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skin condition is hyperseborrhea. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skin condition is sebaceous hyperplasia. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skin condition is sebaceous carcinoma. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration between about 0.005% and about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration between about 0.1% and about 2.5% by weight. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.1% by weight. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.25% by weight. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 2% by weight. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present in the composition at a concentration of about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight between 200 g/mol and 1000 g/mol. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 29 ,  45  or  46 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol in a ratio from 5:1 to 1:5 by volume. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the ratio is between 2:1 and 1:2 by volume. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the ratio is about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a solution and comprises 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one at a concentration between 0.005 g and 1.0 g 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one per 100 mL of the composition and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the concentration of 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is between 0.05 g and 0.5 g. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is at a concentration of about 0.5 g, the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol and the mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol is in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further comprises one or more of an alcohol, an anti-bacterial agent, a preservative, and a chelating agent. 
     
     
         54 . The method of any one of  claims 29 - 53 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a lotion, gel, cream, ointment, foam, solution, suspension, dispersion or impregnated dressing. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the area of the subject's skin affected by the skin condition is on the face. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the skin condition is associated with  Propicnibacterium acnes.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the skin condition is associated with a high sebum secretion rate. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied daily. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 29  or  58 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied only at night. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied twice or three times daily. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied every other day. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is topically applied weekly. 
     
     
         63 . A composition comprising 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration between about 0.005% and about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         64 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration between about 0.1% and about 2.5% by weight. 
     
     
         65 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 0.1% by weight. 
     
     
         66 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 0.25% by weight. 
     
     
         67 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 0.5% by weight. 
     
     
         68 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         69 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 2% by weight. 
     
     
         70 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is present at a concentration of about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         71 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         72 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight between 200 g/mol and 1000 g/mol. 
     
     
         73 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol. 
     
     
         74 . The composition of  claim 63 ,  72  or  73 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol in a ratio from 5:1 and 1:5 by volume. 
     
     
         75 . The composition of  claim 74 , wherein the ratio is between 2:1 and 1:2 by volume. 
     
     
         76 . The composition of  claim 75 , wherein the ratio is about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         77 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a solution and comprises 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one at a concentration between 0.005 g and 1.0 g 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one per 100 mL of the composition and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier comprises a mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         78 . The composition of  claim 77 , wherein the concentration of 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is between 0.05 g and 0.5 g. 
     
     
         79 . The composition of  claim 77 , wherein the 3-phenyl-1-benzo[f]chromen-1-one is at a concentration of about 0.5 g, the polyethylene glycol has an average molecular weight of about 400 g/mol and the mixture of ethanol and polyethylene glycol is in a ratio of about 1:1 by volume. 
     
     
         80 . The composition of  claim 63 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further comprises one or more of an alcohol, an anti-bacterial agent, a preservative, and a chelating agent. 
     
     
         81 . The composition of any one of  claims 63 - 80 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a lotion, gel, cream, ointment, foam, solution, suspension, dispersion or impregnated dressing.