Anti-viral compositions containing pikfyve inhibitors and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions containing a PIKfyve inhibitor, preferably apilimod, APY0201 or YM-201636, most preferably apilimod, for use in treating or preventing viral infections, preferably Ebola or Marburg virus infections. It also relates to a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising apilimod and at least one additional anti-viral agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating an Ebola or Marburg viral infection in a mammalian subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the mammalian subject a composition comprising an effective amount of apilimod, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the apilimod is apilimod free base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is selected from a sulfate, citrate, oxalate, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, bisulfate, phosphate, acid, acid phosphate, isonicotinate, lactate, salicylate, acid citrate, tartrate, oleate, tannate, pantothenate, bitartrate, ascorbate, succinate, maleate, besylate, gentisinate, fumarate, gluconate, glucaronate, saccharate, formate, benzoate, glutamate, methanesulfonate, ethanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate, and pamoate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is selected from the group consisting of a chloride, methanesulfonate, fumarate, lactate, maleate, pamoate, phosphate, and tartrate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is apilimod dimesylate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the mammalian subject at least one additional anti-viral agent, either in the same composition as the apilimod or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or in a different composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-viral agent comprises an antibody or a combination of antibodies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-viral agent comprises a small interfering RNA (siRNA) or a combination of siRNA molecules. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the siRNA or combination of siRNA molecules targets one or more  Ebola virus  proteins. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the siRNA or combination of siRNA molecules targets one or more  Ebola virus  proteins selected from the group consisting of the  zaire  Ebola L polymerase,  zaire  Ebola membrane-associated protein (VP24), and  zaire  Ebola polymerase complex protein (VP35). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anti-viral agent is an interferon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the apilimod, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered via an oral, intravenous, or subcutaneous route. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the administration of the apilimod, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is once daily, twice daily, or continuous for a period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the apilimod, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered in an amount of 70 to 1000 mg/day. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of apilimod dimesylate is from 0.001 mg/kg to about 1000 mg/kg.